Tuesday, January 26, 2016

From Feb 1, file consumer plaints online



From Feb 1, file consumer plaints online
People will be able to pay court fees via site under the guidance of call centre

People who get cheated by companies but don’t approach consumer courts to avoid they the legal hassles can now heave a sigh of relief. Soon, they will be able to lodge their complaints through a website, which will also give them regular updates on the case.

The official announcement about the website, www.consumerconnect.co.in, will be done on the Republic day. People will also be able to pay the court fees online. President of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, justice Ashok Bhangale, said, “This is the first time such a facility is being offered to consumers in India, wherein a private company is allowed to carry out e-filling in consumer courts on an experimental basis. This will help citizens approach the courts easily and it will also help reduce paperwork, as everything would be online.”

The website will go live on February 1. This project was initiated last year, when the state commission, on its website, invited private companies to come forward with such a facility. Though the project of e-filling has been approved by the state commission, it is entirely funded by the company.

To lodge a complaint online, the person would first have to identify himself with a valid identification proof, such as the Adhaar card or voter ID, then select the kind of complaint they wants to file and then submit scanned copies of the necessary supporting documents. This would be forwarded to the registrar’s office, which would verify the same and lodge the complaint. The software will then provide the next hearing date details by SMS and email to the complainant. If the consumer needs any assistance, then a call centre will also be there to guide them.

Around 200 staff members of the commission across the state have been given training in handling the software. Former president justice R C Chavan said, “If this is allowed, the common man need not step out of his house. This would not only reduce the congestion at forums and commissions but more disposal can be achieved as complainants and the other side can decide on a particular time to appear before the court through video-conference and resolve the disputes. Thereby, entire resources will be optimally utilised.”

Source | Daily News Analysis | 26 January 2016

Regards

Pralhad Jadhav
Senior Librarian
Khaitan & Co

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