Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Information Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today stressed on the need for strengthening State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (SCDRC) by providing adequate staff and other logistic facilities.The Minister was speaking at a meeting held here today to review the functioning of the Commission. The meeting was attended by Chairman, SCDRC Justice (Retd.) Sunil Hali, Member D K Kapoor, Secretary, FCS&CA Shafiq Ahmed Raina, Director, FCS&CA Jammu R A Inqalabi and Director, FCS&CA Kashmir Nisar Ahmad Wani.He said the Commission has been constituted to act as an alternate grievance redress mechanism for the protection of consumers’ rights.
“The complaints disposed off through the commission are to be submitted to the Secretariat and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on regular basis” he said.The Minister also enquired about the number of cases pending before the Commission and stressed on speedy disposal of the same for providing instant justice to the consumers.Expressing concern over the complaints about unfair trade practices by some unscrupulous traders on the name of Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Minister urged the Commission to also work as Anti-Profiteering Authority under GST.Reiterating that protection of consumer rights is the priority of the government, the Minister assured that every step would be taken for strengthening the Commission.The Minister also stressed on the need for updating the Consumer Protection Act and Consumer Protection Rules for enabling the commission to effectively safeguard the interests of the consumers.