Consumer forum appoints one-man committee against BSNL

Srinagar, Feb 20 (UNI) The Divisional Consumer Protection Forum (DCPF) in the Kashmir valley has appointed a one-man committee to probe all complaints by senior citizens against the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

The three-member DCPF comprising District and Sessions Judge Rashid Ahmad Lone, M I Kirmani and Mrs Amina Farooqi, has taken serious view of non-compliance of Forum directions by BSNL.

It has appointed Mr Ghulam Nabi Dar, Senior Advocate of Jammu and Kashmir High Court, as Commissioner who will summon the concerned officers of BSNL for explaining whether the directions passed by the forum have been implemented in letter and spirit or not.

The Forum directed the counsel for the parties to assist the Commissioner who will be at liberty to inspect the places along with these advocates to ascertain whether the directions passed by the Forum have been implemented by BSNL or not.

The forum has directed BSNL to issue duplicate bills from all counters for which the payment of bills is being received and open separate counters for persons of 60 years or above immediately.

The BSNL was directed to ensure delivery of telephone bills at least one week before the due date of payment and in case the telephone bills are not delivered, then no surcharge be charged on late payments.

The BSNL was directed to set up a mechanism for ensuring quick, regular and responsive service from the Public Utility Numbers.

However, the BSNL through one A R Gadyari, Divisional Engineer, (Administration) submitted an affidavit that the directions issued by the Forum have been complied with as the two exclusive billing counters have been opened at CTO, Srinagar in addition to ten counters for cash collection for issuing duplicate bills in favour of the subscribers.

The Divisional Engineer, Administration deposed the BSNL had also submitted that 30 responsible agencies for delivering of bills to the consumers within seven days have also been identified.

However, complainants have appeared before the Forum and complained the directions issued to BSNL have not been complied with.

The forum fixed an amount of Rs 10,000 as fees for the commissioner which will be borne by the BSNL.

Besides, a vehicle will be provided by the BSNL to the Commissioner for his on the spot visit of the locations indicated by the BSNL.

The Commissioner has been directed to frame the report and submit before the Forum on March 19, 2007.

UNI