HC displeased with consumer courts' functioning

Mumbai, June 28 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today expressed displeasure over the functioning of the consumer courts in the state.

The High Court's observations came in the wake of a public interest litigation filed by the Consumer Courts Advocates Association which sought to draw the High Court's attention to the poor infrastructural facilities in consumer courts across Maharashtra.

A division bench comprising justices R M Lodha and A S Bagga today directed the Chairman of the State Consumers Disputes Redressal Commission to file a comprehensive report for the period between July 1 to September 30, indicating the number of cases that have been disposed of the pending 20691 cases and also the status of the fresh cases filed during that period.

The High Court also directed that if cases were pending in the consumer courts for over four years, the reasons for the pendency should be mentioned in the report.

Justice Lodha said during the said three-month period, the attendance of the Chairman and the members of the State Commission and district forums should be maintained and the timing of arrival and departure be mentioned in the report.

Justice Lodha came down heavily on the ''more facilities, less work'' attitude and observed that lack of facilities could not be a justification for not working.

The High Court also directed that the Aurangabad Consumer Court bench should become functional by August 31. The Nagpur Bench is expected to be inaugurated by the end of this month.

UNI ARM MAZ ARB RAI2227