Cases against telecom firms to be heard on merits

Cases against telecom firms to be heard on merits
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, AUG 2
Maintaining that the Supreme Court Judgment in Krishnan’s case is not applicable in the case of private telecom service providers, the South Goa Consumer Redressal Forum has ruled that all cases pending before the Forum against the private telecom operators and companies will continue to be heard on merits.
Forum President, Jagdish Prabhudessai, however, ordered disposal of all pending complaints against BSNL before the Forum saying the Apex Court’s Judgment in the Krishnan’s case applies to all pending consumer complaints against BSNL.
The Forum directed that all parties to the pending disputes against BSNL shall be at liberty, subject to the provision of Law, to refer the same to the Arbitrator as contemplated under the Judgment of the Apex Court.
“This Forum is undoubtedly of the considered opinion that the Judgment of the Punjab State Commission in Spice Communication Pvt Ltd case is binding on us. Accordingly, we are bound to follow it,” Prabhudessai said, adding “we therefore categorically hold that the judgment in the M Krishnan’s case of the Apex Court does not apply to the pending complaints before this Forum as against the private service providers. Hence, the said complaints against the private service providers will continue to be heard on merits before this Forum”.
While disposing off a bunch of complaints against BSNL and the private service providers, the Forum president said “it is our duty to mention the fact that we are quite ware of the general anxiety and apparent dissatisfaction in the minds of the consumers at large, voluntary NGOs etc after the pronouncement of the Judgment of the Apex Court,” he said.
Prabhudessai said a submission was made before us that upon the representations received from various NGOs, the central government is seriously thinking of making suitable amendments to Indian Telegraph Act of 1885 so as to bring the consumer Disputes alternatively within the purview of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. “With utmost respect, we have heard the submission that Indian Parliament is seriously thinking of making necessary amendment to the concerned existing laws so as to best protect the interest of the Consumers at large”, he added.