The Indian summer High temperatures in an area consumer market Expansion of consumer business in the nation’s capital is leading to court cases due to a lack of air conditioning.
Dwarka district consumers forum bench, that includes chairman SKGupta, Harshali Kaur and RC Yadav are handling the consumer complaint filed by Rajender Singh on May 21 against Vodafone.
“There is no air conditioning or (water) coolers in the courtroom. The temperature goes beyond 40 degrees Celsius. It is too hot inside the court making people sweat and unable to hear properly,” said the forum in its order adjourning hearing to November 21st. debate.
The chairperson and members of Consumer Forum cannot even try to beat the heat by drinking excessive amounts of water as this requires regular trips to the bathroom. “There is also no water supply even at a place where one goes for relief,” says the order. Imagine how female members felt when there was no water in washroom.
As Delhi government’s Secretary-General and Commissioner was not ready for repeated requests from APEX committee about services provision, President-led bench had no other option but to adjourn hearing till cooler season comes with sending a copy of order thereof; currently summer there are seemingly stalling ten district consumer fora in Delhi. The command remained unswayed. There are total numbers of ten district consumer forums in Delhi.
The SC has sought replies from Centre and State governments describing number of sanctioned posts in consumer forums, vacancies and kind of facilities provided for them. Consumer Protection Act was enacted by parliament in 1986 for quick redressal of consumers’ grievances through quasi-judicial agencies at district, state as well as national level.
“Not only should there be enough presiding officers but also enough supporting staff such as proper courts, support staffs like stenographers, etc., besides space for general public use”-Supreme Court on 22nd February 2021.
Targeted by the SC to fill up the vacancies of consumer forums and enable them to have adequate staff and infrastructure, the states seem not to have been able to comply. Additionally, since March 14th last year, there seems to be no active hearing about Somotu incident as fatigue appears to have taken over even at SC.
