Government of India
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Department of Consumer Affairs
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3449
TO BE ANSWERED ON 6.12.2016
CONSUMER CASES IN UTTAR PRADESH
3449. SHRI ANANTKUMAR HEGDE:
SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:
DR. P. VENUGOPAL:
SHRIMATI VANAROJA R.:
SHRI CHANDU LAL SAHU:
(OIH) Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkk sDrk ekeys] [kk| vk Sj lkoZtfud forj.k e a=h be pleased to state:
(a) whether even after 30 years of its enactment, the implementation of Consumer Act lies in tatters with low consumer rights awareness and dysfunctional consumer forums, if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to ensure greater participation of consumers in the consumer movement;
(b) whether the consumer forums are affected by lack of punctuality, infrastructure constraints funding and manpower, if so, the remedial steps proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) the number of cases filed in consumer courts in the country during the last three years, State/UT-wise including Chhattisgarh & Uttar Pradesh;
(d) the number of consumer cases pending and discharged during the last three years, State/UT-wise along with the steps taken to expedite disposal of pending cases; and
(e) whether there is any plan to set up a statutory watchdog body on the lines of SEBI to safeg
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a): No Madam. The number of complaints filed in the three tier consumer Fora has risen over the years and has reached 46,71,770 since their inception, which is an indication of growing consumer awareness.
Further to spread the consumer movement in the country, the Department of Consumer Affairs has launched the ‘Jago Grahak Jago’ campaign for consumer awareness and has also been providing financial assistance to the Voluntary Consumer Organizations from the Consumer Welfare Fund for this purpose, among others.
(b): Under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 it is the responsibility of the State Governments to provide infrastructure and manpower to the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions and the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Fora. The Central Government, however has been supplementing the efforts by providing financial assistance for strengthening the infrastructure of Consumer Fora in the States. In addition, the Central Government has also been sensitizing the States from time to time to take necessary measures for improving the functioning of the Consumer Fora.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court, based on the report of a Committee constituted by it to study the functioning of Consumer Fora in the country, has issued directions vide its order dated 21/11/2016 in Civil Appeal No. 2740/2007 containing certain measures for improving the functioning of the Fora.
(c) & (d): The number of cases filed and disposed of during the last three years state-wise, including Chhatisgarh and Uttar Pradesh is given in the Annexure. With a view to dispose of the pendency, the National Commission has been holding Circuit Benches from time to time. Some of the State Commissions and District Forums are adopting the process of holding Lok Adalats for speedy disposal of the cases.
(e ): In the Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, already introduced in Parliament, provision has been made for establishment of an executive agency, to be known as the Central Consumer Protection Authority, which will look into unfair trade practices and promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers.