The Supreme Court of India has expressed significant concern over the prolonged delays faced by consumer forums in resolving consumer complaints. On Thursday, a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, addressed the issue, noting that hearings for many pending cases have been stalled for years.
Supreme Court Raises Concerns
The bench highlighted a newspaper report that criticized the performance of consumer forums, describing it as “pitiful and poor.” The report pointed out the severe backlog in case disposals, particularly emphasizing the lengthy duration for which cases remain unheard. “The moment you start paying for case disposal, you will see how the disposal will multiply,” the Court remarked, stressing the need for enhanced infrastructure and facilities to improve efficiency.
The Supreme Court has requested a detailed report from the president of the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission (NCDRC). This report should cover various aspects such as pendency, composition, case disposal rates by different benches, the estimated time required to clear backlogs, and whether there is a need to increase the Commission’s strength. The Court also demanded similar information from state commissions, with specifics on the oldest pending cases and a year-wise pendency chart.
Quality Crisis at District Forums
The Court also brought attention to a “quality crisis” at district consumer forums. According to the bench, there is a lack of attention to the nature of complaints and their merits in these forums. While the State Commission appears to have fewer pending cases, unresolved matters often escalate to the National Commission, contributing to the growing backlog.
Chief Justice Kant noted an article suggesting that cases filed in 2019 were only being listed in 2021, illustrating the severity of the delay. “If this situation persists, increasing the strength might be the only solution,” he suggested, urging authorities to investigate and address these issues promptly.
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The Supreme Court’s proactive stance aims to ensure that consumer forums operate more efficiently, providing timely justice to consumers. The Court’s call for a comprehensive report signifies its commitment to addressing systemic inefficiencies within the consumer dispute resolution framework.
