South Odisha’s longstanding demand for establishment of a Circuit Bench of the State Consumer Commission here has finally been met with the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department issuing a notification in this regard last week.
The notification was issued according to the Section 17-B of the Consumers Protection Act 1986. Consumer cases of 10 districts under the Southern Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) like Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Kandhamal and Boudh would be heard in this Circuit Bench. Earlier, people had to go to State Consumer Commission at Cuttack for the purpose.
All hurdles have been cleared for the Circuit Bench now with publication of the notification, said Consumers’ Association former president lawyer Kailash
Chandra Mishra, secretary Satis Panigrahi, incumbent president Shiba Prasad Mishra, Bibhukanta Samantray and Surya Narayan Mohapatra. lawyers of Brahmapur have expressed happiness over the decision of the Government.