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The report also says that Yadav cautioned the consumers
and the media to be vigilant and to expose any fraudulent
practices by unscrupulous elements in the trade associated
with the supply of CAS after its introduction. Only
alert consumers aware of their rights and responsibilities
can protect themselves besides making consumer sovereignty
a reality, he added.
The minister also expressed the hope that the ministry
of information and broadcasting which has taken a pro-active
role and stepped in to fix the price of free to air
channels is taking all care for the smooth introduction
of the new system of CAS in implementing the Cable Television
Network (Amendment) Act, 2003.
Yadav also pointed out that with the introduction of
CAS, consumers might face some problems such as cable
operators insisting on installation of Set Top Box (STB)
even for free to air channels or not providing proper
services. Though the I&B ministry has provided for
a complaints redressal mechanism, complainants are free
to approach consumer forums for seeking redressal, Yadav
suggested.
As per the provisions, the consumer courts are required
to dispose of cases as far as possible within a period
of 90 days or within 150 days, where testing is required.
Till date in these consumer forums 2.02 million cases
have been filed out of which 1.67 million cases have
been disposed of, which works out to 82.91 per cent,
Yadav said.
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