Karnataka High Court Tells State Govt To Expeditiously Fill Vacancies Of President, Members At Consumer Forums & State Commission

The Karnataka High Court was on Monday informed by the state government that it has constituted a selection committee and begun the process of making appointments to the post of Presidents and Members of all the consumer Forums.

A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice M I Arun accordingly disposed of the petition filed by V R Raghunathan seeking a direction to the state government to fill up the vacancies.

Additional Government Advocate Niloufer Akbar filed a memo before the court stating that the state government has constituted a selection committee, under the Rules, for the purpose of filling up vacancies. Also, a notification dated 24-07-2024 was produced, which reflected that under the Chairmanship of a sitting judge of the High Court, a three-member committee was formed.

Further, the government submitted that not only was the committee constituted, but it had already started the process of making appointments.

Following this the court said “When the state government and the committee constituted in the process the grievance of the petitioner would be attended to. The present petition is disposed of, observing that the process shall be completed as expeditiously as possible.”

The counsel for the petitioner sought direction on the authorities to complete the process in a particular time. It was claimed that since June they (state) have been submitting that vacancies will be filed up. As of today, there are 30 vacancies.

However, the court said “Since the Committee is constituted and is appraised with the present matter, no further orders are necessary."

Case Title: V R Raghunathan AND State of Karnataka

Case No: WP 16634/2024

Citation No: 2025 LiveLaw (Kar) 53