GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS 

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1425
ANSWERED ON MARCH 11, 2013 

QUESTION
Short Age of Staff and Poor Infrastructure in Consumer Courts 

1425. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR: 

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state: 

(a)   whether it is a fact that consumer courts in various parts of the country are facing shortage of staff, poor infrastructure, etc.; 

(b)   if so, the details thereof; and 

(c)    the remedial measures Government proposes to take to improve the consumer courts in the country? 

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K. V. THOMAS) 

(a) & (b): As per provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, it is the responsibility of the concerned State Government to provide staff and infrastructure in the Consumer Fora situated in various States of the country. The vacancy position in the State Commission and District Forums is at Annexure. However, the Central Govt. provides financial assistance to the States for strengthening the infrastructure of Consumer Fora from time to time. 

(c): The remedial measures Government proposes to take to improve the Consumer Fora in the country are as under;

(i)     The State Governments have been requested from time to time to take action well in advance for filling up of vacancies of President and Members and to maintain a panel of candidates for filling up of future vacancies also to avoid delay in appointments.

(ii)   Circuit Benches from National Commission have been frequently visiting States.

(iii) Some State Commissions have constituted Additional Benches mainly to dispose off backlog of pending cases.

(iv)  The National Commission and some of the State Commissions as well as District Fora are adopting the process of holding Lok Adalats for speedy disposal of the cases.

(v)  Financial assistance is provided by the Central Government to the States/UTs for strengthening of infrastructure of Consumer Fora including computerization and networking.

ANNEXURE 

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1425 FOR 11/3/2013 REGARDING SHORTAGE OF STAFF AND POOR INFRASTRVCTURE IN CONSUMER COURTS. 

INFORMATION REGARDING VACANCY POSITION IN THE

STATE COMMISSIONS AND DISTRICT FORUMS

(Update on 06.03.2013)