Greeva Garg –
Published on: August 16, 2021 12:25 IST
The Supreme Court of India has taken up suo moto cognizance upon the increasing vacancies in Consumer Courts at National, State and District levels.
The suo motu case was registered on account of “inaction of the government” in appointing members of the consumer courts and providing adequate infrastructure.
The matter related to appointments of members in Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions is being heard by a division Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Hrishikesh Roy.
The Bench dismayed the situation of vacancies in consumer dispute bodies and the failure of the Centre and the states in filling them.
“This is not fair. This is completely unacceptable. What do you all want? That people should not get redressal under the laws,” the Bench stated.
Observing the reports submitted by the Centre and the States in the Apex Court, it has culminated that the State Consumer Commissions in only 4 out of 28 States and just one Union Territory out of eight are working at full strength.
Presenting consolidated data to the Court, Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan and Advocate Aditya Narain, who assisted the Bench as amicus curiae, said that In all, 514 out of 990 posts are vacant in Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions and 89 more are likely to fall vacant in the next six months.
The Bench has directed the Centre and the States that all vacancies in consumer courts at National, State and District levels be filled up by the Centre, States and Union Territories in eight weeks after duly notifying the rules of appointments, advertising the posts and setting up selection committees.
Terming the situation as completely unacceptable, the Court said it would summon the Chief Secretary of the States in case the job is not complete.
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