Consumer Affairs department coming up with consumer court at Rajarhat

Kolkata: State Consumer Affairs minister Sadhan Pande said on Monday that his department is coming up with consumer court facilities at Rajarhat. The building has already been set up and work is on for developing the infrastructure.

"People from Salt Lake and Rajarhat-New Town have to travel to Barasat for filing complaints related to consumer matters. So we are coming up with a similar facility at Rajarhat to help the people of Salt Lake and its adjoining areas," Pande said after attending the inauguration programme of a consumer complaint box at Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters.

Pande also announced that his department is installing electronic weighing machines at all the markets in the city that are maintained by KMC. This will enable customers to weigh things purchased by them and feel convinced that they have not been cheated by the shopkeeper.

"As per law, there is punishment for shopkeepers who cheat people by giving them things less than the original weight. Common people often complain that some shopkeepers manipulate their weighing machines to fleece customers. We want to ensure that customers are not cheated by any means," Pande added.

Mayor Firhad Hakim said that the complaint box has been installed to ensure that nobody is cheated under Right to Public Service.

"If a consumer feels that a civic body official is unnecessary delaying service to him/her, complaint can be dropped in the box. Action will be taken as per law. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wants consumer rights to be upheld in Bengal in the best possible manner," Hakim said.