Pindi District consumer protection council disposes of 1,862 cases

Rawalpindi: The District Consumer Protection Council (DCPC) disposed of 1,862 cases and imposed fine of Rs2,816,900 against violators during last nine years. The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) was started functioning here in Rawalpindi in 2009 in this regard.

The concerned department has filed total 2,002 cases while 177 cases were sent to the consumer courts. The DCPC has disposed of total 1,862 cases out of total 2002 cases in nine years. The cases filed on different violations like expiry date, manufacturing date, absence of proper receipt and non-display of rate lists.

In order to provide protection and promotion of the rights and interests of consumers besides raising the standard of goods and services in the province including Rawalpindi by removing defective products and faulty services from trade and commerce, the government of Punjab enacted Punjab Consumer Protection Act (PCPA) 2005.

The District Consumer Protection Council (DCPC) Assistant Director (Legal) Adnan Karim told ‘The News’ that they have filed all cases according to Section 11, Section 16, Section 18 and Section 19 of the Punjab Consumer Protection Act (PCPA) 2005. “The consumers should file cases in concerned department or directly in consumer court which is headed by district and sessions judge/additional district and sessions judge,” he said. He said that majority of public unaware of the District Consumer Protection Council.

The important thing which separates this welfare oriented body from others is that justice is available free of cost and within short time period to general masses as their grievances against defective products and faulty services are addressed swiftly, he said.

District Consumer Courts and District Consumer Protection Council are working in Lahore, Gujranwala, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Sargodha, Sialkot, Multan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi.

The violators may be punished by the Court, with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to Rs100,000 or with both in addition to damages or compensation as may be determined by the court.

It is also worth mentioning here that fine up to Rs10,000 could also be imposed against those filing false and frivolous complaints. “I really appreciate Consumer Protection Council (CPC) which was protecting the rights of consumers,” Adnan Adil, a consumer said. Last year, I bought a bicycle from a wholesale dealer. The wholesale dealer gave me a receipt and mentioned that in case of any fault in bicycle for six months, maintenance will be free of cost.

After two months, frame of bicycle was damaged. I went to the dealer, but he demanded Rs1300 to change it, he said. I went to Consumer Protection Council (CPC) to lodge complaint. The concerned department resolved my issue within seven days,” he said.