Tripura's success in consumer rights cases

AGARTALA, Dec 22 – Tripura has recorded satisfactory rate in disposing of consumer related cases under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. There are four courts in the state- State Commission, Agartala nd three district fora of North, West and South Tripura districts- that look into the consumer rights protion. In all the district fora total 1192 cases were registered from 1989 till June this year. Among these 1009 cases were redressed. According to official data available, in WEst Tripura district forum out of 969 registered cases, 818 cases were redressed while in South Tripura district out of 107 cases, 94 and in North Tripura district, out of 116, a total of 97 cases were settled till June this year. Similarly, in the State Cpommission, from 1989 till September this year 599 cases were out of which 311 cases were redressed.

Food and Civil Supplies minister Gopal Das, releasing a book on awareness on consumer rights on Saturday said, the state still had a long way to go when it came to awareness among the people. He said, though there were as many as 11 acts and laws related to the consumer rights, public by and large were still unaware of their rights in case of any dispute.

‘Mostly, it is the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 which entitles a consumer to lodge a complaint with the State Commission and district forum in case of any grievance of the public’, the minister added. He said, Dhalai district would soon have a district forum as it now operates from Kailashahar in North Tripura.