Candour and humour marked the proceedings of the first half of the state Assembly session today after state consumer affairs minister, Sadhan Pandey admitted the present Consumers’ Protection Act is not sufficient to protect the interest of the consumers as it has become outdated.
Minutes later the minister was in for a surprise after his Cabinet colleague, state panchayat affairs minister, Subrata Mukherjee asked him how long would 800 gram weights be passed off as one kilogram ones and also the difference between a “bhokta” and “upbhokta”.
The suggestions of the state government to update the Consumer’s Act is lying with the Centre, the minster replied to a question by veteran Congress legislator, Asit Mitra after having confessed that it is falling short of protecting consumers interest.
Huge number of cases regarding consumers grievances are pilking up, the minister admitted. This has led to setting up of several consumer’s forums in Kolkata and one each in Siliguri and Assansol, the minister said.
To reduce the consumers complaints, courts to deal with these grievances, together with directorate and legal meterelogy department will be set up, he said. The basic civic sense of people have to raised as some are still seen spitting in hospital premises and on staircases, the minister said.
The person who buys is a buyer and the one who sells is a seller, the minister said replying to his Cabinet colleague’s question. Inspectors go around to check short weights in shops, the minister said. They will be given apps to record the fines they have collected, he added.
At this point, leader of the Opposition, Abdul Mannan drawing attention of the Speaker said how can a senior minister ask question to a Cabinet colleague in the House when he could have done so during a Cabinet meeting or elsewhere. This amounts to lowering the prestige of the House, he felt. The question was asked in a humorous vein, the Speaker said. This has not led to lowering of the prestige of the House , he said