Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs, Chowdary Zulfkar Ali today said that the J&K Consumer Protection Act, 1987 is a vital law to protect the rights of the consumers and called for active partaking of all stakeholders for its effective implementation.He said this while inaugurating the workshop on “Speedy Redressal System” under J&K consumer Protection Act 1987 at IIPA Jammu.The workshop was organized by Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs here today which was attended by President State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (SCDRC), Former Justice, Sunil Hali, Commissioner Secretary FSC&CA, M D Khan, Director FCS&CA, R A Inqlabi, Director FCS&CA Nisar Wani, Members SCDRC, Controller LMD, R K Katoch, President District Consumer forum, Khaleel Chowdary, Members District consumer Forum besides prominent citizens were present on the occasion.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister informed “We are trying to provide maximum in a minimum time and various measures are being taken to further strenthen the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission making it more effective to redress the consumer grievances,” he added.
He also said that State Consumer Commission is functional at pace besides 18 District Forums have been constituted to further strengthen justice delivery and more steps are being carried out to further reinforce these forums. To provide speedy redressal to the public , the Minister said that in new draft legislation amendments have been incorporated to make J&K Consumer Rights Act more strong and vibrant to deliver justice to the consumers,” he said."To further strengthen the department, we are going to enhance the powers of State Consumer Commission and have decided to open two more benches of State Consumer Commission at Ladakh and other at Rajouri respectively, which will be established soon,” he noted."We will start publishing Consumer Newsletter soon to highlight cases and directions have been passed to the concerned to constitute an editorial board soon in this regard,” Minister informed .The Minister also passed directions to the concerned officers to dispose of pending cases on priority of victims of 2014 floods in the state.The Minister commended the job of the commission and asked them to ensure speedy redressal of the public grievances with keen interest.He also said that more such programs need to be conducted to make public aware of their rights and about the working of the commission.President SCDRC Sunil Hali, Director R A Inqlabi, D K Member SCDRC, others also spoke on the occasion and stressed on proper implementation of Act.