The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to reduce the 32 Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions operating in the state to 14 as a cost-cutting measure. Accordingly, consumer courts in various districts are being merged with courts operating in neighbouring districts. Under this plan, efforts are being made to relocate the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission operating in Kanyakumari district to Tirunelveli.
Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, consumers could file cases valued up to Rs. 1 crore before District Consumer Courts. Under amended rules issued on 30.12.21, this pecuniary limit was reduced to Rs. 50 lakh. This limit is not the amount of compensation claimed; it is based on the amount actually paid by the consumer for the goods or services. This enables affected consumers in the district to seek remedies more easily.
Through the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission operating in Kanyakumari district, people from various parts of the district could easily reach Nagercoil. It was easily accessible to affected people and provided relief. Under the present move, people from different parts of the district would have to travel many kilometres to Tirunelveli. Further, as cases from several districts would be added there, cases could accumulate and justice may not be delivered within the specified time.
People who approach the court seeking relief after being affected could face further hardship, unnecessary travel and mental distress. Consumer rights, justice and relief from harm can be ensured only when consumer courts function in the districts. Therefore, Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam (TNSPI) has urged the government to abandon the plan to shift the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission functioning in Kanyakumari district to Tirunelveli.
In this connection, under the leadership of General Secretary A.S. Shankarapandian, State Secretary of the Information Technology Wing E. Suresh, South Zone Organising Secretary Dr. S. Nagarajan, Kumari Division Secretary M. Alex Moses, Kumari District Coordinator P. Chandra, Kumari (East) District President T. Kuzhanthaisamy, Secretary R. Sarabhai, Organising Secretary C.V. Murugan, Kumari (Central) District President I. Kennedy, Secretary D. Devadas, Organising Secretary V. Gopalakrishnan, Kumari (West) District President Puthukkadai C. Pandian, Vice-President Prof. C. Mohan and other office-bearers met the Kanyakumari District Collector and submitted a petition containing their demands.
Head Office,
Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam (TNSPI).