Ram Vilas Paswan asks consumer bodies to take up consumers’ complaints to the courts 

Central Consumer Protection Council recommends mandatory standards for piped drinking water also 

Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC), an apex body to advise the Government in the consumer related issue has expressed concern over quality of drinking water being supplied through pipeline and has recommended mandatory standards for drinking water irrespective of its source. At the moment FSSAI has standards only for bottled water. CCPC has said that the FSSAI should formulate standards for water being supply through pipeline also and should monitor its quality. The meeting attended by representatives of various Government bodies including FSSAI, voluntary consumer organizations and senior officials of various Ministries, was chaired by Union Food Minister, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan here today.

Briefing the media about the deliberations of the meeting, Shri Paswan said that CCPC was also of the view that there should be guidelines for brand ambassadors of products and services and in the case of gross misrepresentation of the facts or misleading advertisements, brand ambassadors should also be made responsible.

The Consumer Affairs Minister said that “Grahak Suvidha Kendras” set up by his Ministry are being directed to take up consumer complaints with the sector regulators or consumer courts on behalf of consumers. He said that so far 5 such centers have been set up in Ahmadabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Patna and Delhi. More will be set up in other parts of the country soon.

Shri Paswan also informed that National Consumer Helpline is being strengthened; its capacity to attend consumer complaints is being enhanced three times more.

The Consumer Affairs Minister said that the Government has taken reports of charging more than MRP of products at some places, on some pretext, seriously. Recently a consumer court has also given judgment against overcharging. Government’s agencies have been asked to take stringent and action and to start mass campaign to create awareness against it.

Expressing concern over poor infrastructure at consumer courts in general, Shri Paswan said that the State Governments have been requested to provide necessary support the courts working in their respective states. A committee headed by Justice Arjit Pasayat, Retired Supreme Court Judge has been set up in January this year, is already looking into the matter. It will submit its recommendations to improve functioning of consumer courts by the end of this month, he said