HC poser on consumer status of slumdwellers

In an order that may have far reaching consequences in the rapid slum rehabilitation driven construction in the city, the Bombay high court has raised questions about maintainability of a slum dweller’s grievance against a builder before a consumer forum. The HC has sent a builder to the state consumer commission which will now have to decide “whether the eligible slum dweller under a slum rehabilitation authority (SRA) project, can even be termed a ‘consumer’ under Consumer Protection Act.’’