“A consumer is a King” is the general perception because it is that part of extra which one pays known as profit on which all commercial activities and business enterprises thrive and sustain. Unfortunately, such a perception is more on papers and less on the ground as mere slogans of “Grahak Jago” or ”wake up consumer” is usually not followed what after his waking up whether one’s grievances get really heard and redressed in time bound manner. A consumer faces adulteration, less measured or weighed goods, stale goods especially eatables, exorbitant prices, monopolistic exploitation, quality breaches, non-issuance of sale receipts and the list is long.
However, there are forums and platforms provided by the system like Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (CDRC) and District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums (DCDRF) etc and in Jammu and Kashmir following implementation of J&K Reorganisation Act in 2019, these were wound up like other various Commissions etc. Its immediate impact was that the consumers who had filed their grievances for getting redressed were put to severe inconvenience like delays in getting the requisite relief. The process of setting up such Forums afresh should have been done speedily in all districts though the process and the manner of selecting the members and the Presiding Judicial Officers etc through the Selection Committee too was completed. Large number of cases are pending though the central rules and Central Consumer Protection Act too have come into force. The High Court, in this connection, has sought a detailed report from the authorities on the functioning of the newly set up Forums in various districts in Jammu and Kashmir which having been submitted, it is hoped that now all pending cases shall be disposed of hopefully expeditiously.
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