J&K Govt initiates process to revive State Consumer Commission

To appoint President, four members

Srinagar, Mar 01: The administration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory has initiated the process for revival of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which was abolished days before the reorganization of erstwhile state of J&K into two Union Territories.

To begin with, the government has set the ball rolling for appointment of the body’s President and four members.

Documents in possession of news agency lay bare that the department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has invited applications from suitable and interested candidates for appointment to the President and members of the Commission.

According to the department of FCS& CA, the applicant applying for the post of President shall be the person who is, or has been a judge of the High Court, the persons to be appointed as members shall possess experience of at least 10 years as presiding officer of a district court or any tribunal at equivalent level or combined service as such in the district court and tribunal.

The members shall also have special knowledge and professional experience of not less than 20 years in consumer affairs, law, public affairs, administration, economics, commerce, industries, finance, management, engineering, technology, public health or medicine.

According to rules governing these appointments, the President and members of the State Commission and shall be appointed by the State Government on the recommendation of a Selection Committee comprising chief justice of the High Court or any Judge of the High Court nominated by him, secretary in charge Consumer Affairs of the State and nominee of the chief secretary of the State.

These appointments would be made under the Consumer Protection Act-2019, the law enacted by the Parliament.

It is worthwhile to mention that J&K abolished its own consumer commission days before the re-organisation of the State into two UTs. The State law under which it was set-up was repealed by the Parliament in August 2019 when it approved the Jammu & Kashmir Re-organisation Act.