SHILLONG: The Meghalaya State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (MSCDRC) also known as ‘Consumer Court’ has disposed of as many as 88 cases in the last six months leaving only 10 cases pending.
The pending judgements are cases related to disputes pertaining to mobile and telephone services and the same would be disposed of shortly, said the secretary of the Commission in a statement issued here earlier this week.
The statement said the decisions rendered by the Commission relate to consumer disputes on goods and services like insurance, electricity, mediclaim policy, banking etc.
“Several landmark judgments have been rendered by the Commission and in one such path-breaking judgement which will provide relief to a large number of people it has been ruled that a consumer making an online purchase from Shillong is entitled to approach the Consumer Forum within the local jurisdiction in case of any complaint with the goods,” the secretary said.
It may be mentioned that Justice (Retd.) PK Musahary was named the president of the Consumer Court six months ago. Ramesh Bawri and Patricia Mukhim are senior member and member of the Commission respectively.
In another important judgment, the Commission has held that a voter’s identity card cannot be relied upon by an insurance company for disputing a person’s age.
Another judgment holds that, in case a bank accepts deposits in the public provident fund account of a consumer in excess of the prescribed amount without demur, it cannot refuse to pay compensation to the customer.
The Commission said that consumers having grievances relating to any goods purchased or services availed by them can file complaints before the District Consumer Forum where compensation claimed is up to Rs. 20 lakh.
For claims between Rs. 20 lakh and Rs. 1 crore, the State Consumer Commission may be directly approached and complainants can appear personally without engaging any lawyer.
