Lok Sabha Question No. 2501 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-03
Subject: Consumer Redressal  Forum
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Bhartruhari Mahtab

## Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2501

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2019

## CONSUMER REDRESSAL FORUM

## 2501.   SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the  average  number  of  complaints  received  by  the  Consumer  Redressal  Forum  related  to  the consumer grievances during each of the last three years and the current year;
- (b) the average number of such complaints disposed of by the Consumer Redressal Forum during the said period;
- (c) the  average  time  taken  by  the  Consumer  Redressal  Forum  in  disposing  of  each  of  such complaints during the said period;
- (d) whether the Government has received any suggestions/held consultations with various quarters to  improve  the  functioning  of  Consumer  Redressal  Forum  during  the  said  period,  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (e) the other corrective steps taken/ being taken by the Government to improve the functioning of Consumer Redressal Forum across the country?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh nkuos jkolkgsc nknkjko½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE

## CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

(a) to (c) : As per the CONFONET portal, the details of complaints received, disposed and average time taken for disposal of complaints by Consumer Redressal Fora across the country during the last three years and current year are given below:

|   Year |   Complaints Received | Complaints Disposed   |   Avg. Time for Disposal of a Case |
|--------|-----------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------|
| 173605 |                143683 | 636 Days              |                               2016 |
| 169886 |                141500 | 683 Days              |                               2017 |
| 159524 |                129152 | 719 Days              |                               2018 |
| 152973 |                114262 | 721 Days              |                               2019 |

(d) & (e) : In March 2018, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission issued regulations for monitoring and supervision of the functioning of the State Commissions and the District Fora.  A conference was held on 27 th October, 2018 by the Department with the representatives from the State Governments/UTs,  National  Consumer  Disputes  Redressal  Commission,  State  Consumer  Disputes Redressal Commissions regarding functioning of the Consumer Fora

To meet the infrastructure requirement of the Consumer Fora, the Central Government has been providing financial assistance to the States/UTs for construction of buildings of the Consumer Fora and also for acquiring non-building assets such as furniture, equipment etc. Also, computer hardware/software and technical manpower are provided to the Consumer Fora  for computerisation of their functioning.

The  Consumer  Protection  Act,  2019  was  notified  on  9 th August,  2019  to  replace  the  old Consumer Protection Act, 1986. For improvement of the functioning of the Consumer Fora, the new Act contains several provisions with regard to simplification of the adjudication process in the Consumer Commissions such as enhancement of the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Consumer Commissions, filing of complaints from a Consumer Commission having jurisdiction over the place of residence/work of the consumer, review of own orders by the State Commission and the District Commission in the case of error apparent on the face of record,    e-filing, video conferencing for hearing, deemed admissibility of complaints  if  not  admitted  within  twenty-one  days,  mediation  as  an  alternate  consumer  dispute resolution mechanism, provision for second appeal only on questions of law, no appeal in cases settled through mediation etc.

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