Ref: E&R/POSTMUMBAI/47/SAM-DG

Mumbaikars’ tribute to CERC

“When the day declines into the oblivion of night, only the spirited can keep up the spirit”. The sobriquet here alludes to Prof. Manubhai Shah, Chairman Emeritus of Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC). Mr G.N.Bajpai, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), thus commended Prof Shah at CERC’s public meeting and Silver Jubilee celebrations at the Y.B.Chavan Convention Hall in Mumbai on Friday 7 November 2003.
Mr Bajpai, in his presidential address, recalled that they had several encounters when he was Chairman of the Life Insurance Corporation of India. He described Prof. Shah as the uncompromising critic of the LIC and himself its dedicated defender. But, all in all, they had agreed to disagree on many things. Mr Bajpai had once told Prof.Shah “You are the Bhishmapitamaha of the consumer protection movement in the country”. The latter retorted, “Bhishmapitamaha was helpless at one time, I am not”.

Persuasive Techniques

Mr. Justice M.B.Shah, Chairman of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and former Supreme Court Judge, recalled his 40 years’ association with Prof Shah and praised the persuasive techniques engaged by CERC in solving consumer complaints. He felicitated Prof Shah by presenting a silver memento and a shawl.

Prof Shah, speaking on ‘The Evolution of Laws’ mentioned how CERC was founded when he and two of his friends opposed a fee hike proposed by the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation in 1978. The High Court held the bus-fare hike illegal.

He also recalled a dogbite case in which the victim “could not manage to die within 90 days”. His poor widow was denied the double accident benefit by the LIC as the rules said that the victim should die in 90 days. CERC took extensive research and the findings of the research persuaded the Government to order the LIC to extend the period.

A judgement delivered in the American courts ordered huge compensations to the families of the workers who died due to exposure to asbestos in the course of producing it. Taking a cue from the case, CERC filed a Public Interest Litigation before the Supreme Court of India. The Court directed the manufacturers to maintain the health record of every worker in the asbestos industry and in case the worker died from asbestosis, cancer of lungs due to inhalation of asbestos dust, a compensation of Rs one lakh was ordered.

Spurious Goods

Mr M.K.Sharma, Vice Chairman of the Hindustan Lever Limited, Mumbai, narrated how Prof Shah helped the manufacturers in checking the counterfeit and spurious items crowded in the market. He praised his consent to serve in the Brand Protection Committee established by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Mr Kingshuk Nag, Editor, The Times of India, Ahmedabad praised CERC’s and Prof. Shah’s role in making consumer protection and consumer rights household terms.

Date: 14/11/2003
Place: Ahmedabad

Pritee Shah
Sr. Director-CERC & Editor
INSIGHT -The Consumer Magazine

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CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTRE
“Suraksha Sankool”, Thaltej, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway,
Ahmedabad- 380 054 (INDIA)
Phone: 079-7489945-46 Fax: 079-7489947
E-mail: cerc@wilnetonline.net

Web Site: http://www.cercindia.org
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