Lok Sabha Question No. 440 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Consumer Redressal
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: C. MAHENDRAN, RAMDAS CHANDRABHANJI TADAS, ARJUN RAM  MEGHWAL, J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE, ABHISHEK SINGH

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

## Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 440

TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.04.2016

## CONSUMER REDRESSAL

## 440. SHRI C. MAHENDRAN:

SHRI RAMDAS C. TADAS:

SHRI ARJUN MEGHWAL:

SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  put  in  place  any  mechanism  for  speedy  and  inexpensive redressal of consumer complaints;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there is a shortage of judges/staff and other facilities in Consumer Courts leading to  delay  in  disposal  of  cases  beyond  the  period  stipulated  in  law  inviting  a  critical observation from the Supreme Court;
- (d) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  response  of  the  Government  thereto  indicating  the number of courts, judges/ members, cases filed, disposed and pending in various courts, State-wise;
- (e) the corrective steps taken in this regard; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  launched  any  consumer  awareness  campaigns,  if  so,  the details and the outcome thereof ?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=ky; ea=h ¼Jh jke foykl ikloku½

## THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a)  &  (b):  Yes  Madam,  Under  the  provisions  of  Consumer  Protection  Act,1986,    a  three  tier quasi-judicial  machinery    for  redressal  of  consumer  complaints  -  namely,  District  Consumer Fora in each District, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in all State and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, at the centre has already been established for speedy & inexpensive redressal  of consumer Complaints.

(c)  &  (d):    In  Civil  Appeal  No  2740/2007,  the  Honb'le  Supreme  Court  vide  its    order  dated 14.1.2016  has  directed  for  constitution  of  a  Committee  to  look  into  the  deficiencies  in  the functioning  of  Consumer  Fora  and  to  make  recommendations  for  their  improvement.  The Government   has, accordingly, constituted a three member Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Justice Arijit Pasayat, retired Supreme Court Judge.

The details of vacancy position of President and Members in Consumer Fora State-wise is at Annexure I.

The pendency of cases in Consumer Fora State wise is at Annexure II.

- (e): The following corrective measures have been taken by the Government in this regard:
- (1) 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.
- (2) Circuit Benches from National Commission have been frequently visiting States.
- (3) Some State Commissions have constituted Additional Benches mainly to dispose of backlog of pending cases.
- (4) 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.
- (5) Financial assistance is provided by the Central Government to the  States/UTs for strengthening of infrastructure of Consumer Fora including computerization and networking.

(f): Yes, the Department has launched 'Jago Grahak Jago' multimedia consumer awareness campaign. It is carried out on all India basis through various media like Newspapers, Magazines, All India Radio, Doordarshan, Cable and Satellite Channels, Community Radio, Website, SMS, Digital  Cinema,  Private  FM  Channels,  Interactive  Railway  Enquiry  Service,  Bus  Panel,  Bus Queue Shelter, Display Board at Railway Station/Metro etc. A study carried out in the year 2011 revealed that nearly 91% of the respondents were aware of the campaign.

******

STATEMENT  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  &  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.440 FOR 26.04.2016 REGARDING  CONSUMER REDRESSAL.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vacancy Position in Consumer Fora's as on 29/02/2016

| S. No.   | State               | State Commission    | State Commission    | State Commission   | State Commission   |
|----------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| S. No.   | State               | Sanctioned Strength | Sanctioned Strength | Vacancy Status     | Vacancy Status     |
| S. No.   | State               | President           | Member              | President          | Member             |
| 1        | Assam               | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh      | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 2                  |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh   | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 4        | A&N Island          | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 5        | Bihar               | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 6        | Chandigarh          | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 7        | Chattisgarh         | 1                   | 3                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 8        | Daman &Diu          | 0                   | 0                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 9        | Dadra &Nagar Haveli | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 10       | Delhi               | 1                   | 4                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 11       | Goa                 | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 12       | Gujarat             | 1                   | 5                   | 0                  | 2                  |
| 13       | Haryana             | 1                   | 4                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 14       | Himanchal Pradesh   | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 15       | Jammu &Kashmir      | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 16       | Jharkhand           | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 17       | Karnataka           | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 18       | Kerala              | 1                   | 4                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 19       | Lakshadweep         | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 1                  |
| 20       | Madhya Pradesh      | 1                   | 3                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 21       | Maharashtra         | 1                   | 11                  | 0                  | 0                  |
| 22       | Manipur             | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 23       | Meghalaya           | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 24       | Mizoram             | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 1                  |
| 25       | Nagaland            | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 26       | Odisha              | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 27       | Puducherry          | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 28       | Punjab              | 1                   | 5                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 29       | Rajasthan           | 1                   | 8                   | 0                  | 3                  |
| 30       | Sikkim              | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 31       | Tamil Nadu          | 1                   | 4                   | 1                  | 2                  |
| 32       | Telangana           | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 2                  |
| 33       | Tripura             | 1                   | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| 34       | Uttar Pradesh       | 1                   | 9                   | 0                  | 1                  |
| 35       | Uttarakhand         | 1                   |                     | 0                  | 0                  |
| 36       | West Bangal         |                     | 2                   | 0                  | 0                  |
| Total    |                     | 1 35                | 2 108               | 1                  | 14                 |

## Vacancy Position in District Consumer Fora's as on 29/02/2016

| S. No.   | State               | District Fora       | District Fora       | District Fora   | District Fora   |
|----------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| S. No.   | State               | Sanctioned strength | Sanctioned strength | Vacancy Status  | Vacancy Status  |
| S. No.   | State               | President           | Member              | President       | Member          |
| 1        | Assam               | 23                  | 46                  | 3               | 8               |
| 2        | Andhra Pradesh      | 17                  | 34                  | 7               | 23              |
| 3        | Arunachal Pradesh   | 16                  | 32                  | 0               | 14              |
| 4        | A&N Island          | 1                   | 2                   | 0               | 0               |
| 5        | Bihar               | 38                  | 76                  | 0               | 21              |
| 6        | Chandigarh          | 2                   | 4                   | 1               | 0               |
| 7        | Chhattisgarh        | 12                  | 54                  | 1               | 8               |
| 8        | Daman &Diu          | 2                   | 4                   | 0               | 2               |
| 9        | Dadra &Nagar Haveli | 1                   | 2                   | 0               | 2               |
| 10       | Delhi               | 10                  | 20                  | 2               | 5               |
| 11       | Goa                 | 2                   | 4                   | 0               | 0               |
| 12       | Gujarat             | 26                  | 52                  | 7               | 17              |
| 13       | Haryana             | 21                  | 42                  | 5               | 3               |
| 14       | Himanchal Pradesh   | 4                   | 24                  | 0               | 6               |
| 15       | Jammu &Kashmir      | 2                   | 4                   | 0               | 0               |
| 16       | Jharkhand           | 22                  | 44                  | 1               | 8               |
| 17       | Karnataka           | 31                  | 62                  | 0               | 8               |
| 18       | Kerala              | 14                  | 26                  | 1               | 1               |
| 19       | Lakshadweep         | 1                   | 2                   | 0               | 2               |
| 20       | Madhya Pradesh      | 24                  | 102                 | 0               | 26              |
| 21       | Maharashtra         | 40                  | 80                  | 8               | 8               |
| 22       | Manipur             | 3                   | 6                   | 0               | 0               |
| 23       | Meghalaya           | 7                   | 14                  | 2               | 8               |
| 24       | Mizoram             | 8                   | 8                   | 0               | 2               |
| 25       | Nagaland            | 11                  | 22                  | 0               | 4               |
| 26       | Odisha              | 31                  | 62                  | 4               | 9               |
| 27       | Puducherry          | 1                   | 2                   | 0               | 0               |
| 28       | Punjab              | 20                  | 40                  | 1               | 4               |
| 29       | Rajasthan           | 37                  | 74                  | 12              | 16              |
| 30       | Sikkim              | 4                   | 8                   | 0               | 0               |
| 31       | Tamil Nadu          | 25                  | 60                  | 6               | 7               |
| 32       | Telangana           | 12                  | 24                  | 8               | 17              |
| 33       | Tripura             | 4                   | 8                   | 0               | 0               |
| 34       | Uttar Pradesh       | 79                  | 158                 | 12              | 21              |
| 35       | Uttarakhand         | 13                  | 26                  | 0               | 3               |
| 36       | West Bangal         | 21                  | 42                  | 0               | 3               |
| Total    | Total               | 585                 | 1270                | 81              | 256             |

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (c)  &  (d)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.440 FOR 26.04.2016 REGARDING  CONSUMER REDRESSAL.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

## Statement of  Cases  Filed  /  Disposed  of  /  Pending  in  the  National  Commission  and  State Commissions.

| Sl. No.   | Name of State       |   Cases filed since inception |   Cases disposed of since inception |   Cases Pending |   %of Disposal | As On      |
|-----------|---------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------|------------|
|           | National Commission |                        100856 |                               90502 |           10354 |          89.73 | 31.03.2016 |
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh      |                         32089 |                               31327 |             762 |          97.63 | 29.02.2016 |
| 2         | A&NIslands          |                           111 |                                 106 |               5 |          95.5  | 30.06.2015 |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh   |                            85 |                                  84 |               1 |          98.82 | 31.01.2016 |
| 4         | Assam               |                          2838 |                                2462 |             376 |          86.75 | 29.02.2016 |
| 5         | Bihar               |                         18141 |                               13700 |            4441 |          75.52 | 30.09.2015 |
| 6         | Chandigarh          |                         15280 |                               15004 |             276 |          98.19 | 29.02.2016 |
| 7         | Chattisgarh         |                         10948 |                               10497 |             451 |          95.88 | 29.02.2016 |
| 8         | Daman& Diu and DNH  |                            25 |                                  20 |               5 |          80    | 31.03.2011 |
| 9         | Delhi               |                         42861 |                               37349 |            5512 |          87.14 | 31.03.2016 |
| 10        | Goa                 |                          2745 |                                2720 |              25 |          99.09 | 29.02.2016 |
| 11        | Gujarat             |                         52940 |                               48330 |            4610 |          91.29 | 31.12.2015 |
| 12        | Haryana             |                         46818 |                               45718 |            1100 |          97.65 | 29.02.2016 |
| 13        | Himachal Pradesh    |                          9131 |                                9023 |             108 |          98.82 | 29.02.2016 |
| 14        | Jammu & Kashmir     |                          8703 |                                7525 |            1178 |          86.46 | 31.12.2015 |
| 15        | Jharkhand           |                          5678 |                                5167 |             511 |          91    | 31.12.2015 |
| 16        | Karnataka           |                         50986 |                               44879 |            6107 |          88.02 | 29.02.2016 |
| 17        | Kerala              |                         28660 |                               26459 |            2201 |          92.32 | 29.02.2016 |
| 18        | Lakshadweep         |                            18 |                                  16 |               2 |          88.89 | 31.01.2016 |
| 19        | Madhya Pradesh      |                         49155 |                               41321 |            7834 |          84.06 | 29.02.2016 |
| 20        | Maharashtra         |                         69113 |                               58003 |           11110 |          83.92 | 31.01.2016 |
| 21        | Manipur             |                           170 |                                 164 |               6 |          96.47 | 31.12.2015 |
| 22        | Meghalaya           |                           300 |                                 285 |              15 |          95    | 31.03.2015 |
| 23        | Mizoram             |                           219 |                                 207 |              12 |          94.52 | 31.01.2016 |
| 24        | Nagaland            |                           165 |                                 136 |              29 |          82.42 | 30.09.2015 |
| 25        | Odisha              |                         24257 |                               17672 |            6585 |          72.85 | 31.01.2016 |
| 26        | Puducherry          |                          1039 |                                 995 |              44 |          95.77 | 31.03.2016 |
| 27        | Punjab              |                         35073 |                               33006 |            2067 |          94.11 | 29.02.2016 |
| 28        | Rajasthan           |                         60077 |                               52815 |            7262 |          87.91 | 31.12.2015 |
| 29        | Sikkim              |                            57 |                                  54 |               3 |          94.74 | 31.03.2015 |
| 30        | Tamil Nadu          |                         27291 |                               24497 |            2794 |          89.76 | 29.02.2016 |
| 31        | Telangana           |                          1714 |                                  67 |            1647 |           3.91 | 29.02.2016 |
| 32        | Tripura             |                          1682 |                                1662 |              20 |          98.81 | 31.03.2016 |
| 33        | Uttar Pradesh       |                         77317 |                               51186 |           26131 |          66.2  | 31.01.2016 |
| 34        | Uttarakhand         |                          5709 |                                4645 |            1064 |          81.36 | 29.02.2016 |
| 35        | West Bengal         |                         25861 |                               21766 |            4095 |          84.17 | 31.12.2015 |
|           | TOTAL               |                        707256 |                              608867 |           98389 |          86.09 |            |

## Statement of Cases filed/disposed of/pending in District Fora

| Sl. No.   | Name of State      |   Cases filed since inception |   Cases disposed of since inception |   Cases Pending |   %of Disposal | As On      |
|-----------|--------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------|------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh     |                        115776 |                              113735 |            2041 |          98.24 | 29.02.2016 |
| 2         | A &NIslands        |                           767 |                                 720 |              47 |          93.87 | 30.06.2015 |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh  |                           415 |                                 378 |              37 |          91.08 | 31.01.2016 |
| 4         | Assam              |                         15459 |                               14101 |            1358 |          91.22 | 29.02.2016 |
| 5         | Bihar              |                         98622 |                               84086 |           14536 |          85.26 | 30.09.2015 |
| 6         | Chandigarh         |                         53528 |                               52134 |            1394 |          97.4  | 29.02.2016 |
| 7         | Chattisgarh        |                         44851 |                               40001 |            4850 |          89.19 | 29.02.2016 |
| 8         | Daman &Diu and DNH |                           162 |                                 144 |              18 |          88.89 | 31.03.2011 |
| 9         | Delhi              |                        254168 |                              236589 |           17579 |          93.08 | 31.03.2015 |
| 10        | Goa                |                          7029 |                                6620 |             409 |          94.18 | 29.02.2016 |
| 11        | Gujarat            |                        201526 |                              188168 |           13358 |          93.37 | 31.12.2015 |
| 12        | Haryana            |                        244156 |                              231211 |           12945 |          94.7  | 29.02.2016 |
| 13        | Himachal Pradesh   |                         62612 |                               59767 |            2845 |          95.46 | 29.02.2016 |
| 14        | Jammu &Kashmir     |                         20792 |                               18855 |            1937 |          90.68 | 31.12.2007 |
| 15        | Jharkhand          |                         38117 |                               33917 |            4200 |          88.98 | 31.12.2015 |
| 16        | Karnataka          |                        184006 |                              171083 |           12923 |          92.98 | 29.02.2016 |
| 17        | Kerala             |                        201082 |                              190235 |           10847 |          94.61 | 29.02.2016 |
| 18        | Lakshadweep        |                            83 |                                  65 |              18 |          78.31 | 31.01.2016 |
| 19        | Madhya Pradesh     |                        217411 |                              199051 |           18360 |          91.56 | 29.02.2016 |
| 20        | Maharashtra        |                        300239 |                              277152 |           23087 |          92.31 | 31.01.2016 |
| 21        | Manipur            |                          1297 |                                1240 |              57 |          95.61 | 31.12.2015 |
| 22        | Meghalaya          |                          1005 |                                 925 |              80 |          92.04 | 31.03.2015 |
| 23        | Mizoram            |                          3771 |                                3733 |              38 |          98.99 | 30.06.2015 |
| 24        | Nagaland           |                           652 |                                 598 |              54 |          91.72 | 30.09.2015 |
| 25        | Odisha             |                        104439 |                               96325 |            8114 |          92.23 | 31.01.2016 |
| 26        | Puducherry         |                          3143 |                                2941 |             202 |          93.57 | 31.03.2016 |
| 27        | Punjab             |                        183576 |                              175846 |            7730 |          95.79 | 29.02.2016 |
| 28        | Rajasthan          |                        344925 |                              311700 |           33225 |          90.37 | 31.12.2015 |
| 29        | Sikkim             |                           338 |                                 324 |              14 |          95.86 | 31.03.2015 |
| 30        | Tamil Nadu         |                        112538 |                              104215 |            8323 |          92.6  | 29.02.2016 |
| 31        | Telangana          |                         88594 |                               84560 |            4034 |          95.45 | 29.02.2016 |
| 32        | Tripura            |                          3385 |                                3234 |             151 |          95.54 | 31.01.2016 |
| 33        | Uttar Pradesh      |                        640752 |                              568626 |           72126 |          88.74 | 31.01.2016 |
| 34        | Uttarakhand        |                         39203 |                               36375 |            2828 |          92.79 | 29.02.2016 |
| 35        | West Bengal        |                        104588 |                               97835 |            6753 |          93.54 | 31.12.2015 |
|           | TOTAL              |                       3693007 |                             3406489 |          286518 |          92.24 |            |

*****