PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday relieved seven district and sessions judges of their judicial responsibilities to let them assume the charge as head of consumer courts in seven divisional headquarters of the province.

On Tuesday, the provincial government had appointed DSJ Khawaja Wajihuddin to the consumer court of Peshawar, DSJ Anwar Hussain to consumer court of Mardan, Subhan Sher to consumer court of Abbottabad, Shoaib Khan to consumer court of DI Khan, Mohammad Adil Khan to consumer court of Swat, Nasim Akbar to consumer court of Kohat, and Syed Zamurad Shah to consumer court of Bannu.

Last month, these judges were made officers on special duty at the high court so that they could be relieved for joining their new assignment once the provincial government notifies their appointment.

A government official told Dawn that the government had issued the notification on Nov 18 regarding the DSJs’ appointment as the consumer court judges.

Until now, DSJs had been performing additional duty at consumer courts in the province.

Last year, the high court had recommended to the provincial government to appoint judges exclusively for consumer courts in light of the growing number of cases before DSJs.

Then PHC chief justice Dost Mohammad Khan had observed that protection of consumer rights was an important issue and therefore, there should be exclusive courts to deal with it.

A few months ago, the provincial government had approved a summary for establishment of seven consumer courts at divisional headquarters level.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had enforced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (then NWFP) Consumer Protection Act in 1997.

In 2005, important changes were made in the law by the government. It has now been provided that the provincial government should appoint a district and session judge as a judge of the consumer court.

The law defines wide ranging things as ‘unfair practices’ including hoarding, black-marketing, adulteration, selling of expired drugs, food items and commodities unfit for human consumption, or charging for the goods and services in excess of the price fixed, etc. under it, if a person is found guilty of an offence, he could be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years, or with fine up to Rs50,000, or with both and shall also be liable to provide compensation relief as may be determined by the court.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2014