Bihar Consumer Protection Rules, 1987 1. Short title and commencement. 2. Definitions. 3. Salaries and other allowances and terms and conditions of the President and Members of the District Forum. 4. Place of sitting and other matters relating to District Forum. 5. Procedure to be adopted by the District Forum for analysis and testing of the goods. 6. Salary and other allowances and terms and conditions of the President and Members of the State Commission. 7. Place of sitting and other matters relating to State Commission. 8. Procedure for hearing appeal.

The Bihar Consumer Protection Rules, 1987

Published vide Notification No. G.S.R. 32, published in Bihar Gazette (Extraordinary) No. 493, dated 28.9.1987

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Notification No. G.S.R. 32 dated 28.9.1987. - In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of Section 30 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (Act 68 of 1986) the Governor of Bihar is pleased to make the following rules namely:

Short title and commencement.- (1) This rule may be called the Bihar Consumer Protection Rules, 1987.

(2) It shall come into force on such [date] as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

Definitions.- In these rules unless the context otherwise requires:-

(a) "Act" means the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (Act 68 of 1986);

(b) "Agent" means a person duly authorised by a party to present any complaint or appeal or reply on its behalf before the State Commission or the District Forum;

(d) "Memorandum" means memorandum of appeal filed by the appellant;

(e) "Opposite Party" means a person who answers complaint or claim;

(f) "President" means the President of the State Commission or District Forum as the case may be;

(g) "Respondent" means the person who answers any memorandum of appeal;

(h) "State" means the State of Bihar.

Salaries and other allowances and terms and conditions of the President and Members of the District Forum.- (1) [The Chairman of the District Forum, if appointed on a full time basis will receive the salary of a District Judge and if the appointment is on the part time basis, they will receive an honorarium on the rate fixed by the State Government from time to time. The other Members, if appointed on a full time basis, will be entitled to an honorarium on the rate fixed by the state Government from time to time alongwith the conveyance allowance and if appointed on a part time basis, they will be entitled to an honorarium fixed by the State Government from time to time for every sitting.]

["(1A) The Chairman and the Members of every District Forum will be appointed by the State Government on the basis of recommendation of the Selection Committee mentioned in section 10(1A) of the Consumer Protection Act. The Selection Committee will recommend a panel of candidates for the appointment as member after evaluation on merit/demerit basis for consideration to the State Government."]

(2) The President and the Members of the District Forum shall be entitled for such travelling allowance and daily allowance on official tour as are admissible to Class I officer of the State Government.

(3) The Salary, honorarium and other allowances shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State Government.

(4) Before appointment, the President and Members of the District Forum shall have to give an undertaking that he does not and will not have any such financial or other interests as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member.

(5) In addition of provisions of Section 10(2), State Government may remove from the office, the President and Member of a District Forum who-

(a) has been adjudged an insolvent, or

(b) has been convicted of an offence which in the opinion of the State Government, involves moral turpitude, or

(d) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member, or

(e) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest:

[(f) The Chairman/Members of the District Forum during his/her tenure will not contest any election unless his/her, resignation has been accepted for the post held by them and not be entitled for re-appointment. Their appointment to the posts held by them will suo motu be terminated in case they contest election without having permission to do so]

Provided that the President or Member shall not be removed from his office on the ground specified in clauses (d) and (e) of the sub-rule (5) except on an enquiry held by State Government in accordance with such procedure as it may specify in this behalf and finds the member guilty on such ground.

(6)The terms and conditions of the service of the President and the Members of the District Forum shall not be varied to their disadvantage during their tenure of office.

(7) Where any vacancy occurs in the office of the President of the District Forum, the seniormost (in order of appointment) Member of District Forum, holding office for the time being, shall discharge the functions of the President until a person appointed to fill such a vacancy assumes the office of the President of the District Forum.

(8) When the President of the District Forum is unable to discharge the functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the seniormost (in order of appointment) Member of the District Forum shall discharge the functions of the President until the day on which the President resumes the charge of his functions.

(9) The President or any member ceasing to hold office as such shall not hold any appointment in or be connected with the management or administration of an organization which has been the subject of any proceeding under the Act during his tenure for a period of 5 years from the date on which he ceases to hold such office.

Place of sitting and other matters relating to District Forum.- (1) ["The office of the District Forum will be located at the respective District Head Quarters, whose jurisdiction will be within the regional boundary of the respective Districts"]

(2) ["The working day and holiday of the District Forum will be similar to that of offices of the State Government.]

(3) The official seal and emblem of the District Forum shall be such as the State Government may specify.

(4) Sitting of the District Forum, as and when necessary, shall be convened by the President as provided in sub-rule (2).

(5) No act or proceedings of the District Forum shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy among its members or any defect in its constitution.

(6) State Government shall appoint such staff, as may be necessary to assist the District Forum in its day-to-day work and perform such other functions as are provided under these rules, or assigned to it by the President. The salary payable to such staff shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State Government.

(7) Where admission of facts have been made either in the pleading or otherwise, whether orally or in writing, the District Forum may at any stage of the case, either on the application of any party or of its own motion and without waiting for the determination of any other question between the parties, make such order or decide the complaint as it may think fit, having regard to such admissions.

(8) If during the proceedings conducted under Section 13, District Forum fixes a date for hearing of the parties, it shall be obligatory on the complainant and opposite party or its authorised agent to appear before the District Forum on such date of hearing or any other date to which hearing is adjourned. Where the complainant or his authorised agent fails to appear before the District Forum on such day, District Forum may in its discretion either dismiss the complaint for default or decide it on merit. Where the opposite party or its authorised agent fails to appear on the day of hearing, the District Forum may decide the complaint ex parte.

(9) While proceeding under sub-rule (8), the District Forum may, on such terms as it may think fit and at any stage, adjourn the hearing of the complaint but not more than one adjournment shall ordinarily be given and the complaint should be decided within 90 days from the date of notice received by the opposite party where complaint does not require analysis or testing of the goods and within 150 days if it requires analysis or testing of the goods.

(10) Orders of the District Forum shall be signed and dated by the members of the District Forum constituting the Bench and shall be communicated to the parties free of charge.

Procedure to be adopted by the District Forum for analysis and testing of the goods.- (1) Under Section 13(1)(c), if considered necessary, the District Forum may direct the complainant to provide more than one sample of the goods in clean containers with stopper properly fixed on them.

(2) On receiving the samples of such goods, the District Forum shall seal it and fix labels on the containers carrying following information :-

(i) Name and address of the appropriate laboratory to whom sample will be sent for analysis and test;

(ii) Name and address of the District Forum;

(iii) Case Number;

(iv) Seal of the District Forum.

(3)The sample will be sent to appropriate laboratory by the District Forum for sending report within 45 days or within such extended time as may be granted by the District Forum after specifying the nature of the defect alleged and date of submission of the report.

Salary and other allowances and terms and conditions of the President and Members of the State Commission.- ["The Chairman of the State Commission, if appointed on a full time basis will receive the salary of the Hon'ble High Court Judge and if the appointment is on part time basis, he will receive the honorarium on the rate fixed by the State Government from time to time. The other Members if appointed on a full time basis will be entitled to an honorarium fixed by the State Government for time to time alongwith the conveyance allowance and if appointed on part time basis, they will be entitled to an honorarium fixed by the State Government from time to time for every sitting.]

[(1A) "The Members of the State Commission will be appointed by the State Government on the basis of recommendation of a Selection Committee mentioned in section 10(1A) of the Consumer Protection Act. The Selection Committee will recommend a panel of candidates for the appointment as Member after evaluation on its own motion on merit/demerit basis for consideration to the State government.]

(2)The President and the Members of the State Commission shall be eligible for such travelling allowance and daily allowance on official tour as are admissible to Class I officer of the State Government.

(3) The salary, honorarium and other allowances shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State Government.

(4) ["The Hon'ble Chairman and the Member of the State Commission will hold his/her post for 5 years or 67 years of his/her age whichever is earlier and eligible for reappointment.]:

Provided that President and Member may-

(a) by writing under his hand and address to the State Government resign his office anytime;

(b) be removed from his office in accordance with provision of sub-rule (5).

(5) The State Government may remove from office, President or a Member of the State Commission who-

(a) has been adjudged an insolvent, or

(b) has been convicted of an offence which in the opinion of the State Government, involves moral turpitude, or

(d) has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a Member, or

(e) has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest,

[(f) The Hon'ble Chairman/Members of the State Commission during his/her tenure will not contest any election unless his/her resignation has been accepted for the post held and not be entitled for reappointment. Their appointment to the posts held by them will suo motu be terminated in case they contest any election without having permission to do so.]:

Provided that the President or a Member shall not be removed from his office on the ground specified in clauses (d) and (e) except on an enquiry held by State Government in accordance with such procedure as it may specify in this behalf and finds the Member guilty on such ground.

(6) Before appointment, President and a Member of the State Commission shall have to take an undertaking that he does not and will not have any such financial or other interest as is likely to affect pre-judicially his functions as such Member.

(7) The terms and conditions of the services of the President and the Members of the State Commission shall not be varied to their disadvantage during their tenure of office.

(8) Every vacancy caused by resignation and removal of the President or any other Member of the State Commission under sub-rule (4) or otherwise shall be filled by fresh appointment.

(9) Where any such vacancy occurs in the office of the President of the State Commission, the senior most (in order of appointment) Member, holding office for the time being, shall discharge the functions of the President until a person appointed to fill such vacancy assumes the office of the President of the State Commission.

(10) When the President of the State Commission is unable to discharge the functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the seniormost (in order of appointment) Member of the State Commission shall discharge the functions of the President until the day on which the President resumes the charge of his functions.

(11) The President or any Member ceasing to hold office as such shall not hold any appointment in or be connected with the management or administration of an organisation which has been the subject of any proceeding under the Act during his tenure for a period of 5 years from the date on which he ceases to hold such office.

Place of sitting and other matters relating to State Commission.- (1) Office of the State Commission shall be located at Patna.

(2) ["The working days and holiday of the State Commission will be similar to the offices of the State government.]

(3) The official seal and emblem of the State Commission shall be such as the State Government may specify.

(4) Sitting of the State Commission as and when necessary, shall be convened by the President as provided in sub-rule (2).

(5) No act or proceedings of the State Commission shall be invalid by reasons only of the existence of any vacancy among its Members or any defect in its constitution thereof.

(6) State Government shall appoint such staff, as may be necessary to assist the State Commission in its work and perform such other functions as are provided under these rules or assigned to it by the President. The salary payable to such staff shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State Government.

(7) Where admission of facts have been made either in the pleading or otherwise, whether orally or in writing, the State Commission may at any stage of the case, either on the application of any party or of its own motion and without waiting for the determination of any other question between the parties, make such order or decide the complaint as it may think fit, having regard to such admissions.

(8) If during the proceedings conducted under Section 13, State Commission fixes a date for hearing of the parties, it shall be obligatory on the complainant and opposite party or his authorised agent to appear before the State Commission on such date of hearing or any other date to which hearing is adjourned. Where the complainant or his authorised agent fails to appear before the State Commission on such day, the State Commission may in its discretion either dismiss the complaint for default or decide it on merits. Where the opposite party or its authorised agent fails to appear on the day of hearing, the State Commission may decide the complaint ex parte.

(9) While proceeding under sub-rule (8) the State Commission may, on such terms as it may think fit and at any stage, adjourn the hearing of the complaint but not more than one adjournment shall ordinarily be given and the complaint should be decided within 90 days from the date of notice received by the opposite party where complaint does not require analysis or testing of the goods and within 150 days if it requires analysis or testing of the goods.

(10) Orders of the State Commission shall be signed and dated by the members of the State Commission constituting the Bench and shall be communicated to the parties free of charge.

Procedure for hearing appeal.- (1) Memorandum shall be presented by the appellant or his authorised agent to the State Commission in person or sent by registered post addressed to the Commission.

(2) Every memorandum filed under sub-rule (1) shall be in legible handwriting preferably typed and shall set forth concisely under distinct heads, the grounds of appeal without any argument or narrative and such grounds shall be numbered consecutively.

(3) Each memorandum shall be accompanied by the certified copy of the order of the District Forum appealed against and such of the documents as may be required to support grounds of objection mentioned in memorandum.

(4) When the appeal is presented after the expiry of period of limitation as specified in the Act, memorandum shall be accompanied by an application supported by an affidavit setting forth the fact on which appellant relies to satisfy the State Commission that he has sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the period of limitation.

(5) The appellant shall submit four copies of the memorandum to the State Commission for official purposes.

(6) On the date of hearing or any other day to which hearing may be adjourned, it shall be obligatory for the parties or their authorised agents to appear before the State Commission. If appellant or his authorised agent fails to appear on such date, the State Commission may, in its discretion, either dismiss the appeal or decide it on the merit of the case. If respondent or his authorised agent fails to appear on such date, the State Commission shall proceed ex parte and shall decide the appeal ex parte on merit of the case.

(7) The appellant shall not except by leave of the State Commission, urge or be heard in support of any ground of objections not set forth in the memorandum but the State Commission, in deciding the appeal, shall not confine to the grounds of objection set forth in the memorandum or taken by leave of the State Commission under this rule:

Provided that the Commission shall not rest its decision on any other grounds unless the party who may be affected thereby, has been given, at least one opportunity of being heard by the State Commission.

(8) State Commission may, on such terms as it may think fit and at any stage, adjourn the hearing of appeal, but not more than one adjournment shall ordinarily be given and the appeal should be decided within 90 days from the first date of hearing.

(9) Order of the State Commission on appeal shall be signed and dated by the Members of the State Commission constituting the Bench and shall be communicated to the parties free of charge.

List of Consumer Forums functioning at the following places in the State of Bihar.

Patna	Rohtas	E. Champaran
Vaishali	Kishanganj	West Champaran
Siwan	Gopalganj	Bhagalpur
Madhubani	Saharsa	Muzaffarpur
Purnea	Madhepura	Saran
Nalanda	Monghyr	Sitamarhi
Gaya	Begusarai	Katihar
Jehanabad	Khagaria	Darbhanga
Aurangabad	Samastipur	Banka
Nawadah	Buxar	Jamui
Bhojpur	Supaul