Additional circuit benches to redress consumer complaints

The West Bengal government has decided to set up two circuit benches of the state Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission at Asansol and Siliguri to expedite disposal of complaints, Consumer Affairs Minister Sadhan Pande said today.
Another circuit bench would also come up in Kolkata soon, the minister told the Assembly, adding, approval in this regard had been received recently to reduce pressure from the state commission.
Right now judges for the respective benches were being interviewed, he said.
Replying to a question, Pande said that his department had received 1.43 lakh complaints through 22 district fora covering all the districts, while the State Commission alone had received 23,509 complaints from the consumers till March 31 this year.

Of these complaints, altogether 93,804 have been disposed off under 22 district fora and 19,700 complaints under State Commission during the period.
Besides, Consumer Assistance Bureau would come up in each district to help the poor file complaints, he said replying to a supplementary.
Replying to another supplementary, the minister said that his department would also look into the compensation in case of complaints of death after consuming illicit liquor.