New Delhi

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has granted interim relief to actor Salman Khan by staying proceedings initiated against him before a district consumer forum in connection with an allegedly misleading pan masala advertisement.

The temporary stay was granted while the commission heard an appeal challenging directions issued by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC), Kota, concerning the verification of signatures of the opposite parties, including Khan.

A bench comprising NCDRC President Justice A P Sahi and member Bharat Kumar Pandya issued notice to complainant Indra Mohan Singh alias Honey and ordered a halt to further proceedings before the district commission.

In its order dated June 10, the commission observed:

"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 NCDRC noted that the appeal raised substantial questions regarding both the jurisdiction exercised by the district consumer forum and the manner in which the proceedings had been conducted.

Counsel appearing for the appellants argued that the district commission proceeded with examining the authenticity of signatures without first deciding whether the consumer complaint itself was maintainable.

The national commission also took note of an interim order passed by the Rajasthan High Court on May 27, which had stayed an earlier direction of the district commission relating to the verification of signatures.

The appellants further contended that the proceedings amounted to an abuse of legal process and submitted that similar complaints had been filed before other consumer forums as well.

The NCDRC directed:

"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 matter stems from a consumer complaint alleging that a pan masala advertisement featuring Salman Khan and others was misleading to consumers.

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The case has now been listed before the NCDRC for further hearing on June 22.