Delhi High Court Notes Large Pendency Of Cases In District & State Consumer Fora, Seeks Report On Status Of Working Hours

Taking note of a huge pendency of cases in district fora as well as the State Consumer Forum, the Delhi High Court has sought a report on the status of working hours of the forums.

Observing that the consumer forums in the city ought to function for the full working hours for hearing matters, Justice Pratibha M Singh sought status report from Registrar, Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, as to the status of the working hours, especially in the District Forum(s).

"Considering the large pendency in the District Fora and the State Forum, it is urged that the President, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum shall look into this matter. The Consumer Forum(s) ought to function for the full working hours for hearing matters between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., on a daily basis, as per the Regulations," the Court said.

The Court was apprised by the Delhi Government that a Selection Committee has been constituted for the purpose of appointment of members in respect of the vacant positions in the District and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Fora.

It was also submitted that further infrastructure has also been sought and the same is being coordinated with the concerned officials.

To this, the Court directed the concerned officials of the Department of Consumer Affairs, GNCTD to continue their interactions with the President, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, GNCTD, so as to ensure that the infrastructure is now put in place, before the next date of hearing.

"Let the status report in this regard be now filed within four weeks. The same shall give details of the infrastructure provided and also inform the Court as to the status of the vacancies in the District and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Fora, including the staff," the Court ordered.

The matter will now be heard on September 6.

Earlier, the Court had noted that it was expected that physical courts ought to resume quickly in such fora and that some priority must be given to old matters where the evidence was concluded and were pending for final hearing.

This comes after the Court had in January this year called for a report in respect of filling up of vacancies and infrastructure requirements across all District Fora and the State Consumer Redressal Forum in the city.

As per the report submitted by the Registrar, Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, there were a total 725 cases pending for final hearing before the State Commission and 6,834 number of cases pending for final hearing before various District Fora. In all these cases, evidence was stated to have been concluded.

Regarding infrastructural support, the report stated that there was an acute shortage of space and support staff in the State and the District Fora.

The Court was dealing with a petition highlighting a grievance that the District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum (West), Janakpuri, Delhi had not disposed of the consumer complaint, which was filed way back in 2007.

The Petitioner father had lost his son aged 13 years of age and had filed a consumer complaint against the Employees State Insurance Corporation and the Employees State Insurance Hospital. It was the petitioner's case that there was medical negligence, which led to the demise of his young son.

The Court had then called for a report on the aspect of vacancies in respect of staff and members at the said Consumer Forum and also on the urgent requirements for its effective functioning.

Case Title: MOHAN PRASAD (SINCE DECEASED) THROUGH HIS LRS SH. YOGESH & ORS. v. EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION & ANR.

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