Can a Consumer Court complaint be filed in a plain sheet of paper?

Mysore/Mysuru: World Consumer Rights Day was organised at Vidyavardhaka Law College which was inaugurated by District Consumer Redressal Commission Mysuru President B. Narayanappa. IIT Alumni and Mysore Grahakara Parishat Founder Bhamy V. Shenoy was the chief guest. 

In his inaugural address, Narayanappa said that consumers can simply submit their complaint to the District Consumer Redressal Commission on a white sheet of paper.

Intervening in the session, Bhamy Shenoy told Narayanappa that when Consumer Protection Act was first implemented, he had submitted a letter with his complaint and it was accepted. However over the years, the process has become so complex with a definite format suggested by the Consumer Redressal Commission. Now the Consumer Courts have actually become as tedious as Civil Courts. 

“If you really accept a simple letter as a complaint, it is the beginning of a new era in the implementation of COPRA (Consumer Protection Act) as envisaged by India’s Parliament when it was adapted in 1986,” Bhamy Shenoy told the gathering. 

After Narayanappa concluded his address, Bhamy Shenoy asked him in how many cases the Commission has been able to give judgements in just one sitting, without any adjournments. Replying to his query, Narayanappa explained the steps involved like getting evidence, assessing the credibility of evidence, framing charges etc. All these processes were similar to that of a civil case. 

Bhamy Shenoy insisted that the spirit of COPRA was to have a simple process to give judgements without going through the elaborate process of a Civil Court. He requested two other members of the Commission and the President that they should exercise their                                                                                    powers to force the Commission to give up the elaborate process of Civil Court and make the process in the Consumer Court as simple as possible. 

He also suggested that to begin with, the Commission should get rid of the elevated platform from where they preside and have tables at the same level as public. Such                                                             symbolism is needed to make the consumer complainants comfortable. 

At the event, CREAT Executive Head Y.G. Muralidharan delivered the keynote address, Vidyavardhaka Sangha President Gundappa Gowda presided, Treasurer Shrishail Ramannavar and others were present.