The Kerala High Court on Wednesday asked the State government to take effective steps for the creation of 229 staff posts to augment the infrastructural development of Consumer fora in the State [Adv J Surya v State of Kerala & ors and connected case].
A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar VM passed the order while considering a Public Interest Litigation petition filed by advocate J Surya and a connected petition filed by one CK Mithran concerning the functioning and infrastructure of State and district consumer commissions.
"There is a need for the creation of 229 posts for the purpose of infrastructural development of the Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions in all districts, including the State Commission," the Court observed.
It had earlier put in place an interim arrangement to address the shortage of staff in consumer commissions through its order dated August 5, 2026 and stated that the arrangement would continue until the proposed new posts were created.
In that order, the Court had recorded the State's submission that for the time being, civil police officers already assigned to court duties in magistrate and sessions court could be given additional duty at consumer commissions across the State without creating additional posts.
When the matter was heard on September 9, the Special Government Pleader informed the Court that the proposal for creating these posts was presently awaiting financial approval and the necessary financial sanction was expected to be granted in four weeks.
Taking note of the submission, the Court posted the matter for further consideration on October 7, while asking the State to ensure that steps are taken towards creating the 229 posts by then.
The Court also asked the State to file an affidavit detailing the progress made.
"We hope that, by the adjourned date, effective steps shall have been taken for the creation of the posts," the Court added.
Advocates R Rajasree (Chuttimattathil), AB Beenu and Aparna Rajan represented Surya.
Advocate Rinu S Aswan represented Mithran.
[Read Order]