For the first time since the formation of Telangana, a circuit bench of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission would hear cases in the city from January 28.
Speaking to The Hindu, NCDRC Deputy Registrar Iqbal Ahmed said it would hear 168 cases from January 28 to February 8. These are cases from both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. While the NCDRC operates from New Delhi, its circuit bench hears cases in different cities.
“NCDRC chairman Justice R.K. Agarwal and member M. Shreesha will hear the cases. We are seeing that many cases pertain to consumer disputes over banking and insurance. There are a lot of cases in connection with building construction and builders as well. The hearings are likely to begin around 10.30 a.m. every day. It will deal with approximately 20 cases per day,” Mr Ahmed, who is in the city to oversee circuit bench work, said. Both Mr. Iqbal and Telangana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission V. Janardhan Reddy said the circuit bench would hear cases which are valued at ₹1 crore and above. In ordinary circumstances, aggrieved parties would have to approach the NCDRC in Delhi to either file appeals or revision petitions. With the circuit bench coming to the city, it would be a shot in the arm of the consumer as the time taken and the travel costs would be significantly reduced.
The temporary circuit bench being set up at Telangana State Food Commission office on the second floor of the Hermitage Building near Adarsh Nagar would hear cases related to consumer disputes under Consumer Protection Act 1986.
The NCDRC president arrived in the city on Sunday ahead of the launch of the circuit bench and Telangana State Consumers Affairs Secretary Akun Sabharwal greeted him. They held a meeting with the district consumers’ forum presidents and members and discussed measures that should be taken for strengthening the consumer bodies at the district level.
According to an official release, consumers can appeal on disputes pertaining to ₹1 crore or more before February 8, while new appeals and revision petitions of consumers disputes relating to the two States could also be placed before the circuit bench.