Consumer Affairs dept to initiate suo moto cases against persons over carcass meat row

Darjeeling: There will be suo moto cases initiated against 36 persons by the Consumers Affairs department of the State Government in the Kolkata rotten meat dump yard case.

This announcement was made by Minister Sadhan Pande in charge of the Consumer Affairs Department in Siliguri on Friday.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the inauguration of Circuit Bench of the West Bengal State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission in Siliguri, the Minister stated: "We will initiate cases against 36 persons in the Consumer Courts. The DG of Police, West Bengal has placed his report to the Consumer Affairs department. Based on this report, we have decided to initiate suo moto cases."

Police cases will also continue but the suo moto cases in the consumer courts will be resolved with speed.

If proven guilty the accused will face prosecution, stated the Minister. While inaugurating the circuit bench, the Minister stated that consumer courts, weights and measurement offices and consumer dispute redressal offices will be brought under one roof

in all districts.

The circuit bench will take care of cases throughout North Bengal.

"Around 200 pending cases pertaining to North Bengal will be shifted to this Bench from West Bengal State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Kolkata," stated the Minister.

The circuit Bench can redress disputes to the tune of Rs 1 crore. However, amendments are being brought to the laws, whereby after the amendments are made the Circuit Bench can redress disputes to the tune of

Rs 10 crore.