HC issues notice to officials

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court today ordered issue of notice to the Secretary of the Department of Law and Justice, among others, on a petition filed by Madurai Bar Association seeking appointment of President for District Consumer Forums from advocates and retired district judges in the ratio of 1:1.
Admitting the petition by J Ramamoorthy, Secretary of the Association, a Division Bench of Justice V.Dhanapalan and Justice V.M.Velumani ordered notice to officials.
The petitioner submitted that the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission had issued notification for appointment of Presidents to the District Forum at Nagercoil and six other places recently.As per the Consumer Protection Act,the post of the President could be filled from practising advocates and retired judges.

However since 1986, when the act came into force, only two advocates had been appointed as presidents in district consumer forums, the petitioner claimed.
This was unfair.Hence the system of appointment should be reconsidered so that all those who appeared for selection would get a fair consideration.Besides advocates had more opportunities to know about the problems of the consumers, the petitioner submitted.
When advocates were appointed as even High Court judges why should not they be appointed as presidents of the District Consumer Forum,the petitioner asked.