Consumer Commissions Are Set Up For Giving Quick Relief: SC Criticizes NCDRC For An Year Long Delay In Assigning Reasons To Dismiss Appeal [Read Order]

The Supreme Court, last month, criticized the National Consumers Disputes Redressal Commission for its long  delay in assigning reasons for dismissing an appeal.

The Commission, in this case, in its order dismissing an appeal stated that a reasoned judgment will follow. But the Court found that no such reasoned judgment followed even after a year lapsed. In the meanwhile, it also dismissed an application for review of the order on the ground that since the main appeal has been dismissed and reasons are yet to be given the review application is not maintainable.

The bench comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Surya Kant said that it cannot appreciate this system of adjudicating appeals whereby an appeal is dismissed without giving reasons and reasons are not given for such a long period of time. It said:

This is not the way the Commissions are required to function. These Commissions have been set up with a view to give quick relief to the parties and if reasons are not given for years on end then the whole purpose of setting up such Commissions is thwarted. 

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