The Sindh High Court on Friday issued notices to the Federal and Sindh Law Secretaries as well as the Sindh Chief Secretary (CS) until July 19, seeking explanation on a constitutional petition filed for promulgation of a consumers’ protection law in the province and for establishing separate consumers’ courts.
A division bench comprising Justices Muhammad Ather Saeed and Aqil Ahmed Abbasi, after hearing the preliminary arguments from the petitioner, issued a directive to the respondents for submitting their comments in the next hearing.
The petition was filed by Rana Faizul Hassan pleading to promulgate a consumers’ protection law to protect the consumers’ rights across the province.
He submitted that no legislation has been formulated in the province by any government in the past, causing exploitation of consumers in the urban and rural areas where they are being looted by traders.
Besides, none of the provincial governments have taken any initiative to protect the rights of the consumers.
On the other hand, these laws have been promulgated in the remaining provinces where protection of the consumers is ensured.
He added that except Sindh, separate consumers’ courts have also been established in all the provinces and they are working well to provide relief to consumers on a daily basis.
He said that the district coordination offices (DCOs) are entitled to address and entertain the complaints of the consumers, and taking action against retailers if involved in illegal activities of purchasing items at higher rates than allocated by the government.
The DCOs are also authorised to take immediate action against such retailers if found involved in purchasing substandard items, but such a law does not exist in Sindh.
He submitted that due to the absence of the law regarding consumers’ protection, consumers are continuously being looted and exploited by retailers, and prices of necessities and essential items are being increased unofficially, but no legal action has been taken against them in this regard.
The Sindh CS, the Sindh Law Minister, the Industries Minister and the Karachi DCO were cited as respondents.
The plaintiff pleaded to issue orders for formulating a legislation regarding promulgation of consumers’ rights and for establishing consumers’ courts across the province.
It was also prayed that orders be issued for controlling price-hike on essential items and for taking stern action against traders if involved in looting the consumers.
