Ganjam lawyers intensify their agitation
The Ganjam District Consumer Bar Association led by its president Kailash Chandra Mishra has intensified its agitation demanding holding of a Circuit Bench of the Odisha State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission at Brahmapur as per Section 17-B of the CP Act, 1986.
Though the association had given an ultimatum to the Government on July 16, but the demand remains unheeded which is quite unfortunate, said association vice-president S Das in a Press release on Sunday.
Association members have launched their cease-work stir from August 1 and announced that the agitation would continue till their demand is met.
The association has urged leaders of different political parties including the local MlA, Government authorities and the civil society to lend their moral support to its demand. The association, in a memorandum, has also urged the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to intervene in the issue. Advocate and journalist KC Panda has urged the Government to fulfil the association’s demand.
The DCA-cum-Additional Secretary of Department of FSCW on January 13 this year wrote to RDC (SD), “The Government after considering the pending of cases in the State CDR Commission, Odisha, Cuttack and with an aim to deliver justice at the doorsteps of the consumers have decided to hold two Circuit Benches of the State CDR Commission, one at Brahmapur and another at Sambalpur, covering revenue jurisdictions of the RDC Southern Division and RDC Northern Division, respectively.”
Accordingly, while conveying the approval of the RDC (SD) to the above proposal, the Secretary to RDC on February 1 intimated the FS&CW Department, “…such Circuit Bench of State CDR Commission is allowed in RDC’s Court Hall except 1st Monday of the month as the same date is earmarked for holding of the Circuit Court of OAT, Bhubaneswar.”
The letter further stated, “The State CDR Commission can be accommodated on any other day excepting three Saturdays in the interest of consumers/public of south Odisha.”
Despite all this, why a Circuit Bench has not yet started its court work at Brahmapur, the lawyers question. Former Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda has also demanded that a Circuit Bench be opened immediately at Brahmapur.