Advocates too come under Consumers’ Protection Act

Visakhapatnam: Advocates, too, come under the purview of Consumers’ Protection Act if they fail to render accurate service to the litigants, said Secretary of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Justice R V Nagasundar.

Addressing an awareness meeting on ‘Immediate redressal of disputes-alternative methods’ held at the Dr V S Krishna College here on Tuesday under the aegis of Federation of District Consumers’ Welfare Associations, Justice Nagasundar said the consumers who pay for goods or services will come under the Act. The consumers should take the bill/invoice for every purchase and if the seller refuses to give, it should be intimated to the officials concerned and the problems could be overcome only with awareness.

“If there is any deficiency in service during the guarantee or warranty period of a product, the consumers can approach the District Consumers Fora immediately seeking justice. Even in case of medical negligence too, the consumers can get justice through fora’, the Justice explained.

The DLSA secretary also dwelt on the issues of Anti-Dowry Act, ragging, Lok Adalat, free legal aid, human rights and consumers’ protection.

President of Federation of District Consumers’ Associations Kandregula Venkata Ramana said that a consumer can directly file a petition in the Consumers’ Fora and also can directly present his arguments without the help of an advocate.

Consumers’ Rights activist P Srinivas, Dr V S Krishna College principal Dr K Ravi Kumar, District Lok Adalat member L V Ramani, College Consumer Club coordinator Ch Vishnu Murty and others were present.