Kudos to the Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Department and the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) for setting up a Circuit Bench of SCDRC at Madurai ! This laudable measure, though belated in the wake of a decade long campaigning and lobbying of consumer rights’ activists and consumer groups will undoubtedly go a long way in alleviating the hardship and suffering hitherto undergone by the common consumer-complainants in taking up their cause at the State capital only at exorbitant costs. It is now imperative and more appropriate that Government and the Commission take such urgent steps as necessary to make the Circuit Bench functional at the earliest, preferably around March 15 to coincide with the World Consumer Day. At this juncture the Chief Minister is also requested to initiate immediate action for reviving the defunct statutory policy making body, the State Consumer Protection Council under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Food and Consumer Protection in terms of Section 7 of the CP Act which will give an impetus to the consumer movement in the State. M. PIRAVI PERUMAL President “ CONSUMER WATCHDOG ”
