'Not Satisfied': High Court Seeks Better Status Report On Vacancies & Infrastructure Facilities In Delhi Consumer Forums

The Delhi High Court has sought a better status report highlighting the district wise particulars of the vacancies as well as infrastructure facilities in city's consumer forums.

While expressing dissatisfaction on the earlier status report filed by the Delhi Government, a division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla said:

"The same gives some facts and figures. However, we are not satisfied with the same."

Thus, the Bench sought a better status report from the Delhi Government on the following aspects:

- number of sanctioned posts of the members of the Consumer Forums

- number of actual incumbents as on date

- sanctioned strength of support staff of each of the Consumer Forum and the actual strength thereof

- drinking water and toilets facilities provided for both men and women at such Consumer Forums

- whether there is any facilities provided for holding virtual hearing at such Consumer Forum

- telephone connections, if any, provided in the Consumer Forums for access by the public and whether the said telephone connections are active working or not.

The Court directed the particulars to be filed as within the four weeks while listing the matter for further hearing on September 2.

The development ensued in a Public Interest Litigation highlighting the poor state of the Consumer Courts established under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 in the city.

The petitioner had pointed out that there were several vacancies in the Consumer Forums, followed by inadequacy in staff, lack of infrastructure such as drinking water, toilets and even space for the Consumer Courts and their officers.

In a similar development, Justice Pratibha M Singh 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.

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

Title: SANGAM SINGH KOCHAR v. MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE & ANR

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