Use Consumer Fora to solve disputes: Vinay

International Consumer Day on March 15 Rajahmundry: People should make use of Consumer Fora in order to solve their disputes, Mr B Vinay Kumar, president of East Godavari District Consumer Forum-2, at Rajahmundry, said here on Wednesday. International Consumer Day would be celebrated on March 15, he informed. Addressing a press conference, Mr Vinay Kumar said that due to the rapid development of countries there were several subjects that are to be brought under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Protection Act. He cited the examples of digital rights, environmental impact, Corporate Social Responsibility, Internet services and online purchase. He informed that cases relating to medical negligence, deficiency in mobile network services, chit funds, insurance, real estate, adulterated pesticides and seeds also come under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Protection Act. He explained that the district Consumer Forum has pecuniary jurisdiction up to Rs 20 lakh value of the dispute. State forum has the jurisdiction up to Rs 1 crore and the national forum has the jurisdiction of more than Rs one crore value of the dispute. He suggested the consumers to approach consumer fora as it would take much time to settle the disputes in civil courts. Mr Vinay Kumar informed that a survey is being conducted internationally about the implementation of reliefs granted and to expand the rights to the new fields in the society. He said that an international organisation called 'Consumer International' would submit its report in the year 2014 to update the UN guidelines of consumer protection. He reminded that parliament enacted a Consumer Protection Act that came in to effect in the year 1986 when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister. He said that the Consumer Forum-2, Rajahmundry was established covering the revenue divisions of Rajahmundry, Amalapuram and Rampa Chodavaram on a regular basis in the year 2005. A He further said that the district forum's new building was constructed at a cost of Rs 40 lakh and was inaugurated in November, 2012. He informed that this forum is working on full time basis, having a president and two members. There is no awareness about this forum and its jurisdiction is limited. He said that it is everyone's duty to create awareness among the public with regard to the functioning of the forum to get relief immediately without much expenditure. He informed that 1,240 cases were filed from 2005 to 2012 and out of these 1,126 cases were disposed. Members of the district consumer forum 2, Rajahmundry, HV Ramana and A Madhusudan Rao were present.