Staff shortage hits Consumer Forum

Khairtabad: Consumer Dispute cases are piling up at the Telangana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (TSCDRC) with as many as 3,100 cases pending for disposal in 2019.

In a consumer bench, there must be two judges along with the president of the forum. Among the three judges for a bench, one post which is allotted to woman judge is still vacant and other judge is on a sick leave.

To provide much needed justice to petitioners who approached the forum, Justice Jaiswal is hearing cases alone. He says, "Being the president of the forum it is my responsibility to run the bench at any circumstances."

Although examinations were conducted to fill the vacancies, the process is still underway in a very slow motion. The staff crunch is so severe that even after the judgment, complainants are forced to wait as there is no staff to serve notice. Sometimes judges have to wait for stenographers from other forum who were on deputation to complete typing.

Unfilled vacancies

Examinations were conducted last year in August to fill the vacancies, interviews were held in September 2018 and the committee also had sent the list of candidates selected but the government is yet to appoint.

The Consumer Forum which deals with disputes, conflicts and grievances is unable to provide justice due to staff crunch, lack of infrastructure, unfilled vacancies and pending decisions of Telangana government, all leading to cases pending for disposal.

Need for court hall

The court hall of the forum was allocated to the Andhra State after bifurcation, since then, Telangana Consumer Forum has no court hall. As a result, hearing proceedings are held in a shed made of asbestos sheets behind the court hall.

Recently, there was a declaration stating Telangana could take up the court hall but official handover is awaited. The partially damaged shed of the court hall and leaking roof is disturbing court hearings during rains.

In addition, the court hall can accommodate just 20-50 people. During Mondays and Tuesdays, many are forced to wait outside as a large number of people visit the forum.