SOCIETY FOR CIVIC RIGHTS Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Society for Civic Rights, which is a registered Consumer Association under the MRTP Act, had filed a complaint on the 6th June. 1990 before this Commission to the effect that the Telecom Engineers of the Telecom Organisation including the MTNL had launched work -to -rule agitation which lasted for a period of 7 days from 23.5.90 to 29.5.90, that as a result of this agitation, the Telecommunication network throughout the country was badly disrupted affecting local calls, STD Calls. Trunk Calls, Teleprinter, Telex and FAX services provided by the Telecom Organisation.

(2.) By way of evidence of this disruption, the President of the complainant society submitted that his own telephone was not functioning during this period and that the Press reports indicated that the Telecommunication system had been damaged by the agitating employees.

(3.) The complainant submitted that a telephone service is an essential service and that the consumers of various services provided by the Telecom Organisation all over the country suffered badly as a result of the agitation. According to him the Consumer Protection Act did not recognise any agitational approach and that it was the obligation of the Telecom The complainant therefore has claimed reliefs as under :