Ranchi, June 3: Jago Grahak Jago may be the clarion call to promote consumer awareness, but when it comes to the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in the capital, the catchline appears off-the-cuff.

A woeful state of power connection to the two-storied building — it houses the state commission and the district consumer disputes redressal forum — is more likely to put consumers out rather than inspire them to “wake up” and press for their rights.

Despite possessing a three-phase line, the electricity meter in the state commission, which is on the first floor of the building, is out of order. Of the three phases, only one is in operation and the two air-conditioners in the courtroom have been reduced to mere showpieces. Besides, the meter, which was charred due to a short circuit almost a year ago, is yet to be repaired.

The internal wiring of the building, close to Jharkhand High Court at Doranda, also needs repair, as short circuits are common. Office staffers on their own have mended a few switchboards to ensure lights and fans work.

An official of the appellate authority said they literally prayed before electricity officials of Doranda to grant them temporary connection for running the court. “We are at the mercy of the Jharkhand State Electricity Board (JSEB) officials, who can sever the line any day because the connection is not routed through the meter, which is burnt and not functional,” he said.

The status of the district consumer forum, which is on the ground floor, is only worse. The district forum has had no power supply since 2007 because of non-payment of bills. The JSEB had raised a bill of nearly Rs 90,000 and snapped connection to the forum. The forum is yet to foot the bill.

An official pointed out that members of the forum had written several letters to the food and civil supplies department seeking funds for paying the power board, but nothing concrete had been done so far.

He added that they had several files of correspondence between them and JSEB officials as well as the department, which is in charge of both the state panel and the district forum. “We had to request the line man of the area to give us a temporary connection for using lights and fans and ensure the court functions. Without power, computers cannot run and work will come to a standstill,” said the officer on the condition of anonymity.

The landline of the district forum had also been disconnected for non-payment of bills, which ran close to Rs 2 lakh, another staffer said.

“There is hardly any power in the state commission and even when there is electricity, the air conditioners cannot work. As there is only one phase, which has the entire load, switching the ACs would trip the line, causing another short circuit. Even in this sweltering heat, there is no respite in the courtroom,” said Bibhash Sinha, an advocate.

However, food and civil supplies department secretary Rajbala Verma told The Telegraph that she had already allocated Rs 90,000 for the forum to pay its outstanding dues to the JSEB. “I have taken over recently and have gone through pending files. I have passed an order for allocation and sanction of funds for payment to the board. We will also convene a meeting shortly to decide other issues to ensure the state commission and the district forum can function comfortably,” she added.