TSEWANG RIGZIN
LEH: The market checking squad in Leh led by Executive Councillor for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Tsering Sangdup on Wednesday seized 1.45 Qtls of foul frozen chicken from three cold storages and a fine of Rs 33,000 was imposed on defaulters.
The team that conducted surprise checking also included Lower Leh Councillor, Wangdan Shunu and Assistant Director CAPD Leh.
According to LAHDC sources samples from two storages have been sent to the Animal Husbandry Department for laboratory testing and two other storages with foul chickens were sealed.
Tsering Sandup told STATE TIMES that a verification inquiry is being conducted is as many of the chickens have not been packaged properly.
“Many packets of chickens imported from Srinagar had no expiry dates and accordingly samples have been sent laboratory testing”, Wangdan Shunu told STATE TIMES adding that they had conducted such surprise checking on wholesale stores also few days ago and found out shocks of commodities with consumable period expired.
It happens almost every year that lots of commodities with dates expired are found for sale in the month of March and April, just before Leh-Srinagar reopens. Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution department Leh keeps a vigil on the status of essential commodities but those having grievances in cases other than essential commodities used to suffer huge until recent days.
It is heartening and also pertinent to mention here that State Government has recently constituted District Consumer Forum for Leh by delegating powers of president of the District Consumer Forum to the District and Session Judge Leh. A three-member committee also includes two advocates Samstan Dolma and Nilza Angmo nominated by the government from a panel it had received.
Over the years constitution of the District Consumer Forum has been a pressing demand of the people of Leh because consumers having grievances pertaining to sale, purchase, service delivery, manufacturing etc used to suffer huge in absence of a forum where they can appeal for compensation.
It is leant that consumers can simply file an application along with bill/ documentary evidence/proof of transactions to the District Consumer Forum in cases of costumers being cheated by retailers, services providers etc as the forum has the power to pass judgement for compensations in favour of anyone who is found to have been cheated.
