RATNA V KUSHNOOR Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner was appointed as a member of the Gulbarga District Forum constituted under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Her appointment was made as per the Notification dated 10-8-1989. This Notification also stated that the jurisdiction of the said forum shall extend to four revenue Districts of Gulbarga, Raichur, Bellary and Bidar. A formal order of appointment was subsequently made on 21-9-1989 as per the Notification of the said date. However, on 24/04/1990 Bidar Forum was constituted by a notification, consisting of the same President and members including the petitioner. By another Notification dated 8/11/1991 the District forum for the District of Bidar was notified as consisting of Mr. Byrappa as the President and two members Mr. Kashinath Rao Pule and Smt. Guramma. Obviously this was pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court directing that each of the District shall have an independent District Forum.

(2.) On 15/11/1991, the petitioner wrote to the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Karnataka bringing to his notice that the petitioner is a resident of Bidar proper and that she used to attend hearings at Bellary, Gulbarga, Raichur and Bidar as a member of the common forum and that she had to travel 3 to 4 hundred kms. and she had been attacked with throat disease due to dust allergy. She also enclosed a medical certificate. She has stated that since a separate district forum for Bidar had been constituted she may be included in the said forum and obviously due to oversight she was not included in the said District forum for Bidar though the practice had been to appoint the local person in the case of a lady member.

(3.) On 16/12/1991 (Annexure H), Notification was issued appointing the second respondent Smt. Ardhana Triwari as a member of the District Consumer Forum of Gulbarga in place of the petitioner. The petitioner is aggrieved by this Notification.