UT consumer forum website archaic

Amarjot Kaur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 7

It has been five months since the Chandigarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission updated the court fee. However, its website has not yet been upgraded with the pertinent details. 

To reddress the grievances of the consumers, the Administration had established one state commission and two district forums under The Consumer Protection Act 1986 in Sector 19-B. A board, stating important guidelines for customers, as per the act reads, “The rates of amended court fee are applicable with effect from September 14, 2018. For the district forum, it is nil for matters involving an amount up to Rs 5 lakh, Rs 200 for those between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh and Rs 400 if the amount ranges between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.”

The board also lists the court fee for the state commission. It reads: “For the state commission, matter involving an amount between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 50 lakh costs Rs 2,000 and those between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore costs Rs 4,000.”

It states that complaints up to Rs 20 lakh must be filed with a court fee in the shape of bank draft/postal order in favour of the president, District Forum-I, and in the case above Rs 20 lakh, the court fee should be in favour of the secretary, state commission.

Any person who buys any goods or hires any services within the city for a consideration dissatisfied with the quality of goods and hired services can file a complaint in the district or state commission if the claim is up to Rs 20 lakh and above Rs 20 lakh, respectively.

However, according to the website, the court fee is Rs 200 if the total value of goods or services or the compensation claimed at the District Forum-I is above Rs 1 lakh and up to Rs 5 lakh. It is Rs 400 in case the value of goods or services or the compensation claimed is between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh.

For the state commission, the website states, “The court fee for cases between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh is Rs 500 while for those between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 50 lakh it is Rs 2,000. The court fee for all cases pertaining to the amount ranging between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore is Rs 4,000.”

Now, file self-attested copies of complaint

• As one of the main functions and features of these redressal agencies, the consumer is required to file three sets of complaints/appeal on a plain paper along with affidavit/evidence, besides similar said complaint for the opposite parties/respondents either by post or in person.
• However, consumers can now submit a self-attested copy of the complaint.
• Consumer Rights activist Pankaj Chandgothia said, “Earlier, consumers were required to file affidavits attested by Notary or Oath Commissioner. Acceptance of self-attested affidavits will not only save the consumer some amount up to Rs 50 but also save his time and effort. This could have been done much earlier as the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs had issued a circular way back on May 27, 2014.”