The Telangana Civil Supplies website has been down for over three months, preventing people from filing complaints about consumer issues.
When asked, advocate and social activist Vijay Gopal expressed concern about the inactivity of the Consumer Affairs, Food and Civil Supplies department in Telangana. He pointed out the lack of updates regarding the department’s operations and the roles of Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Commissioner DS Chauhan.
Vijay stated that he was unable to file complaints with the department or the Legal Metrology office, as the controller, who is also the commissioner, is inactive and inaccessible. He highlighted the absence of online or offline complaint mechanisms, citing a lack of accountability and transparency. He also said that while other departments such as the police are providing active online responses, the Civil Supplies department remains unresponsive.
Vijay pointed out the rising consumer issues, such as retailers charging more than the maximum retail price (MRP). He mentioned a recent incident where a restaurant included a 5% service charge in his bill, which should be a voluntary tip. He also noted that some traders charge an extra Rs 3-5 for beverages as cooling charges. He emphasized that while the Legal Metrology department has been inactive in recent years, many consumers remain unaware that such charges can be reported.
Vijay called on the Telangana Chief Secretary to explain why the Civil Supplies website and the department, along with the Legal Metrology team, remain inactive and unresponsive.
