RAWALPINDI: The Federal Government has set up a separate tribunal for hearing complaints against life insurance corporations.
According to consumer court officials, the district consumer court has been hearing cases of the entire division for the last twelve years and has provided relief to the litigants and the public have expressed confidence in the courts.
Meanwhile Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench has directed district consumer court to conduct a tour of the division to hold proceedings at the district level. Seventeen consumer courts are working in the province whereas this year, six new courts have been set up in six districts of the province.
Thirteen judges are serving in the district consumer courts.
The consumer courts have facilitated appellants and have created awareness about consumer rights among the masses.
To a question, the officials said that the consumer courts listen to the complaints of the people regarding manufacturing faults, poor service and problems faced by consumers in service by WAPDA, Sui gas and other public service institutions.
Mostly the complainants are from the city against poor service in banks, hospitals, doctors, and medical labs, whereas in the winter season, complaints are generally about Sui Northern Gas Limited (SNGPL) where they generally complain about low gas pressure.
The officials said that it has been observed that most of the medical labs, including those authorised by the government, are allegedly involved in issuing faulty medical certificates, which has caused a negative impact on a common man’s life.
The consumer court has helped the complainants and punished the offenders accordingly.
At present, 151 cases are pending in the consumer courts from October and 41 cases have been disposed of. The officials said that it is obligatory for the society to respect human life.
“Although there are certain lacunas in the judicial system, positive changes are underway. The consumer courts are in their initial stage but still they have achieved a lot,” the officials said and suggested that a division level consumer court should be set up to facilitate the residents of the entire division.
