Agartala: The Tripura government has removed Gautam Sarkar from the post of President of the West Tripura District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission following an inquiry into allegations of misbehaviour and abuse of position, officials said.
According to an order issued by the Directorate of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs on February 12, the action was taken under Rule 8 of the Consumer Protection (Qualification for Appointment, Method of Recruitment, Procedure of Appointment, Term of Office, Resignation and Removal of the President and Members of the State Commission and District Commission) Rules, 2020.
The order stated that “an inquiry was conducted by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, following a preliminary scrutiny by the Government of Tripura” in respect of Sarkar, “on the basis of written complaints alleging specific charges of misbehaviour and abuse of position submitted by advocates and employees of the office of the West Tripura District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.”
It further said that the State Commission, after concluding the inquiry, submitted its report to the government and “arrived at the conclusion that the charges levelled against Shri Gautam Sarkar were found to be true.”
The order added that a copy of the inquiry report was furnished to him and “a reasonable opportunity was granted to him to submit his representation/written statement of defence.”
Stating that the government, after careful consideration of the report, the written representation, and the case records, concluded that the charges “stand substantiated,” the notification said: “Now, therefore, the Government of Tripura, in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 8 … hereby removes Shri Gautam Sarkar from the office of President, West Tripura District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission with immediate effect.”
It may be mentioned that chaos broke out in the West Tripura consumer court premises on January 17 after lawyers and staff of the court accused the president of conducting hearings in an inebriated condition.
It is also alleged that he used to carry alcohol bottles to his office chamber and drink at regular intervals. The advocate bodies met Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sushanta Chowdhury and demanded that Sarkar be removed within a stipulated period of three days.
Chowdhury, in his response, said that the legal implications were being taken into account and action would certainly be initiated against the president.
It should be noted that Gautam Sarkar courted controversies during his service life as a judicial officer as well.
Sarkar also lodged an FIR with the New Capital Complex Police Station against the advocates and officials of his office, claiming that such activities threatened the independence of the judiciary.