Consumer Court President Pledges Swift and Effective Justice Delivery

Kathmandu. The Chairman of the Consumer Court, Diwakar Bhatta, stated that the court is committed to making consumer justice fast, prompt, and effective. Speaking at an event organized on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day, Chairman Bhatta announced plans to advance the Consumer Court as a 'Fast Track' court.

Shedding light on the sensitivity of consumer rights, Chairman Bhatta said, 'At one point, one is a producer or seller, and at another point, one is a consumer. No single person can produce all goods and services in the world; therefore, all of us are consumers in some capacity.'

Chairman Bhatta emphasized that receiving clean, accessible, and quality goods and services commensurate with the price paid by the consumer is their inherent right, and the private sector also holds equal responsibility in this regard. 'Real consumer justice can only be delivered by systematically managing the triangular relationship between the private sector, the government, and the consumer,' he stated.

Informing that two years have passed since the establishment of the Consumer Court in Nepal, he mentioned that hearings are currently being conducted through a three-member bench.

He stated, 'There are two aspects to consumer justice. Government mechanisms and the court perform curative or remedial work, while activists and civil society must undertake preventive or awareness-raising work. Consumer justice is ensured only when both these aspects move forward together.'

Acknowledging the addition of new challenges from e-marketing in the current digital age, Chairman Bhatta expressed the court's commitment to actively playing a role in addressing these challenges and ensuring consumer rights.

He stressed that the Consumer Court is functioning according to the mandate it has received and emphasized the necessity of cooperation, coordination, and understanding from all stakeholders.