Tamil Nadu govt urged to fill vacancies in consumer disputes redressal commissions

MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions Former Members Association has made a representation to minister for food, civil supplies, consumer protection and price control R Sakkarapani to fill more than 100 vacancies in district consumer disputes redressal commissions (DCDRC) for expediting the grievances redressal process for thousands of consumers who await justice.
President of the association A Sankar, who made the representation to the minister in person at the secretariat on Sunday, said there are 69 member positions for the DCDRC and 33 district president position vacancies in the commissions.
The DCDRC comprises two members and a president. Many of these posts have been vacant for more than two years. This has brought functioning of the forums to a standstill.
“The position of president of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) has remained vacant since February 5, 2021,” Sankar said and added that as per gazette of India (No 348 dated July 15, 2020, Point No 4 on Page number 6) the process of appointments shall be initiated by the state government at least six months before the vacancy arises. But the long pending delay in appointments has affected a cross section of the society.
Sankar pointed out that last month the matter was heard by the first bench of the Madras high court when the state government informed that the chairman and two members for the selection committee had been appointed. The matter was adjourned for ten weeks.
The association has been raising the issue for more than a year. It also submitted the representation to the chief minister’s special cell.