Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: Taking serious note of unfair trade practices and deficiency in services, the Department of Legal Metrology has issued notice to the Chief General Manager (CGM) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
In the notice, it has been mentioned that though the BSNL like other telecom service providers is required to provide trouble free and effective service to the subscribers, the situation is totally contrary to this.
“The consumers are suffering a lot due to inefficient and fractured infrastructure as frequent complaints of call dropping, restrictive trade practices for buying compulsory modem as per Circular No 1-1/2015-R&C-CFA dated 13-08-2015, excessive billing and allied complaints are being received”, the Legal Metrology Department said, adding “the deficiencies in services are also being reported by NGOs working for the cause of the consumers”.
“It is the right of the consumers under Consumer Protection Act to have access to variety of goods of their own choice at a competitive price and availing of smooth service for the money they have been charged with”, the department said, adding “the consumers cannot be compelled to have a product against their will”.
The notice further said, “the consumers need to be protected against this kind of unfair and restrictive trade practices along with deficiency in services”, adding “it is the duty of Government to protect the rights of consumers as per Section 10(d) of the Consumer Protection Act as such notice is served upon you to show cause why a case of restrictive trade practice and deficiency in service may not be lodged against you on behalf of all the aggrieved consumers in the appropriate consumer court so as to safeguard the interests of consumers in general”.
Through the notice issued by Manoj Parbhakar, Deputy Controller Legal Metrology, the CGM has been given an opportunity to respond within a period of one week failing which the matter will be lodged at the appropriate forum.
It is pertinent to mention here that the issue was also discussed by the Legal Metrology Department with the Minister Incharge, Choudhary Zulfkar, who issued directions for initiating action under the Consumer Protection Act.
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