New Delhi: In a temporary relief for Hindi film actor Salman Khan, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has stayed proceedings initiated against him before a District Consumer Commission in a complaint related to an allegedly misleading pan masala advertisement.
The commission passed the interim order while hearing an appeal challenging directions issued by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC) in Kota regarding the verification of the opposite parties’ signatures, including Khan.
A bench comprising President Justice A P Sahi and member Bharat Kumar Pandya issued notice to complainant Indra Mohan Singh alias Honey and stayed further proceedings before the district commission.
In its June 10 order, the NCDRC said, “In view of what has been urged and noticed by us hereinabove as also the orders passed by the High Court of Rajasthan, it would be appropriate to issue notice to the respondent no.1/complainant calling upon him to answer this appeal”.
The commission observed that the appeal raised substantial questions regarding the jurisdiction exercised by the district forum and the manner in which the proceedings had been conducted.
Counsel for the appellants argued that the district commission had proceeded to examine the genuineness of signatures without first deciding the maintainability of the complaint.
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The NCDRC also took note of an interim order passed by the Rajasthan High Court May 27, staying the operation of an earlier direction issued by the district commission concerning signature verification.
The appellants further alleged abuse of process and submitted that similar proceedings had been initiated in other consumer forums.
“Let a copy of this order be placed on the records of the proceedings before the District commission. Subject to any further orders being passed, further proceedings before the district commission shall remain stayed,” the commission said.
The case pertains to a complaint alleging that a pan masala advertisement featuring Salman Khan and others was misleading.
The matter has been listed for further hearing June 22.
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