CONSUMER COURTS IN GOA ARE GROUNDED by Adv. Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar

The consumer protection courts in Goa are unable to functioning effectively. While the North Goa Forum is without a president, the South Goa forum has been short by one member for a long time. The affairs at the State Commission are worse with, the President, a retired High Court judge from Maharastra coming once a month, but the other two members are yet to be appointed.

As the law requires that the State Commission President should be a retired High Court judge we may soon find a full time person locally for the post. With High Court Justice Nelson Britto retiring next month on 8th Jan, the government should consider accommodating him there on a full time basis. The government must however ensure that the elevator at Junta House works. As the office of the State Consumer Commission is located on the fifth floor, it would save a retired high Court judge the embarrassment of having to thread up many steps.