Over 9,800 cases pending before Delhi district consumer fora: Delhi High Court issues directions for quick disposal

Considering the high number of cases pending before Delhi’s District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, the Delhi High Court has directed their registrars to start listing final matters for hearing at 2:30 PM daily [Mohan Prasad (Since Deceased) Through LRS Sh Yogi & Ors v. Employees State Insurance Corporation & Ors].

The Court has said that these matters should be listed in chronological order starting from the oldest cases, and advance publication should be made in the cause list so that lawyers and litigants stay informed.

Justice Prathiba M Singh further directed the registrars of the consumer fora to submit monthly reports on the status of disposal of final matters.

The directions were issued by the Court after a report was submitted revealing that 9,181 cases were pending before the capital's consumer fora, some of which date back to the year 2003.

The Court was also told that these consumer fora do not hold regular hearings and do not sit post 12 noon or hold physical hearings.

It was further informed that there is no uniform method of prioritisation to ensure expeditious disposal of matters where evidence has been concluded.

Justice Singh has also directed the Registrar General of Delhi High Court to hold a meeting to consider the creation of a District Consumer Forum in Shahdara, which is the only district lacking a district forum.

At this meeting, provisions for providing infrastructure in the district fora and modalities for creation of mediation cells will also be considered.

The meeting will be attended by the President/member of each of the district consumer fora, the Registrar of the Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution of the Delhi government, among others.

The conclusion or the minutes of the meetings were directed to be placed before the Court on the next date of hearing, November 22.

Advocates FK Jha and Gharav Jha appeared for the petitioner.

GNCTD’s Additional Standing Counsel (ASCs) Sameer Vashisht and Satyakam along with Advocate Sanjana N appeared for the respondents. 

[Read Order]