SRINAGAR: Commissioner Secretary Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Saurabh Bhagat, today convened a comprehensive review meeting to assess the functioning and ongoing initiatives of the Consumer Commissions across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by President State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, along with the Presidents and members of the District Consumer Commissions besides senior officers from the department of FCS&CA, including Special Secretary, Director Finance, Deputy Directors, Senior Law Officer and officials from Legal Metrology Department and National Informatics Centre were also present.
During the review, the Commissioner Secretary stressed the need to expedite identification and allotment of suitable land parcels for construction of permanent buildings for District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions. It was decided that the matter would be followed up proactively with respective district administrations to ensure timely availability of land.
The meeting emphasised the need to expedite the preparation and approval of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for new DCDRC buildings in Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla and Kupwara.
The Commissioner Secretary directed that these DPRs be treated as priority projects. He asked the Legal Metrology Department to collaborate closely to fast-track all related technical and administrative processes in this regard.
Further, a detailed overview of existing staff shortages in various Consumer Commissions was also taken up.
Saurabh Bhagat directed to initiate concrete measures to address these deficiencies at the earliest so that functioning of the Commissions remains smooth and efficient. He asked the concerned officers to take up digitisation of all case records, orders and judgments on priority basis.
A detailed review was held with the National Informatics Centre regarding the fast track implementation of e-Jagriti platform, aimed at ushering in comprehensive e-governance across consumer courts. The platform will integrate mediation cells, online payment gateways and the corpus fund for fines and penalties.
Commissioner Secretary also directed for early finalisation and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Food, Supplies & Consumer Affairs for seamless integration and rollout of the system in J&K.
Further, the meeting also held a threadbare discussion on implementation of Supreme Court Judgments pertaining to functioning of Consumer Courts. This included deliberations on emoluments of Commission members, mode of appointment, tenure and other statutory compliances.
Saurabh Bhagat instructed that necessary steps must be taken to ensure full adherence to the Supreme Court directions in letter and spirit.
Commissioner Secretary also reviewed status of the Consumer Welfare Fund and called for renewed efforts to mobilize resources and deploy them effectively for consumer awareness and welfare activities. The consumer awareness campaigns regarding through press and electronic media was highly prioritised in the meeting. He underscored the importance of accelerating consumer justice delivery through coordinated departmental efforts and adoption of modern practices.