After 8 months, Consumer Forum will commence physical hearing of pending pleas in district and state courts from November 23, 2020. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission president justice Shantanu Kemkar has issued standard operating procedure (SOP) for physical hearing of the cases.

The physical hearing will commence on an experimental basis on the request of various lawyers' bodies. As per the SOP, physical hearing instructions have been given for compliance from November 23, 2020 to December 5, 2020.State commission has been holding hearings through video conferencing since March 25 due to the Covid-19 induced nationwide lockdown.

“The number of pleas to be heard will be decided on the day of the hearing by the president of district consumer forum in advance,” SOP issued on Thursday stated. Further, entry of plaintiff, defended, lawyers and any other attendants in the forum must be recorded for safety reasons. “To limit the touch and possible chance of spread of Covid-19, signing of register by plaintiff, defended, lawyers and others has been relaxed and hence, their presence will be marked by officials,” SOP said.

District consumer forum president will be required to ensure that all the employees of forum at various posts are following necessary precautions to control the outspread of coronavirus. “Everyone commuting to forum must wear a mask, maintain social distancing and other preventions to ensure safety at forum,” the orders stated. Further, the forum has to prepare the court to take necessary preventions for ensuring safety from coronavirus. “Sanitising before entering the court, ensuring social distancing, limiting the number of people in court at a particular time, wearing a mask and other necessary steps must be taken at the forum to ensure safety,” the orders said.

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