Taking cognizance of red tapism in government offices,the Suburban District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has ordered the Medium and Small Scale Industries department to cough up Rs 37,079 for delaying clearance of an application made by a shoe maker to participate in an exhibition. The forum observed the industries department showed laxity in processing the application and failed to meet the deadline due to which the shoe designer lost the opportunity. The case dates back to March 2009,when the Indian Trade Organisation arranged for a 10- day long exhibition in Egypt. Mohammad Taslimkhan,a local shoe designer from Madanpura,wanted to participate in the exhibition and handed over a demand draft to the department. According to Taslimkhans petition,he approached the department to know if it had communicated with the embassy and if his visa issuance work was underway. The officers at Mantralaya assured me that my papers were sent to the embassy and that I would get my visa soon, Mohammad said in his complaint. However,when Mohammad did not hear from the embassy or from the department,he again approached them,this time with a lawyer demanding his visa or a refund. After he was denied refund,Mohammad moved the consumer forum in November 2009. The department in its defence claimed that Mohammad had failed to pay the entire amount on time and hence his application could not be processed. Rejecting the departments claim and holding it responsible for negligence,the forum ordered that the money be refunded to Mohammad along with 6 per cent interest on it from the day of the complaint. The forum also ordered an additional payment of Rs 500 against the cost.
