Disheartening state of consumer courts

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It was initially decided to prohibit lawyers from representing consumers, but this was not considered prudent. Public in Consumer Courts do not require lawyers, and procedures were simple. Foreign lawyer invitees praised it as one of the finest Acts on this subject in the world! However more and more lawyers started thronging these courts bringing their bad habits, adjournments and some exploiting litigants.

Many times, better to say, most of the times scheduled case was sought to be adjourned or delayed because a lawyer of the opposite party requested postponement for his convenience. I had to object to lawyers occupying the front benches and area, making it uncomfortable for me to stand and state my case. People go to court for quick justice and maximum time in normal circumstances is laid down as 3 months. This rarely happens.


Very briefly, Consumer Courts comprise of a Patna District Forum(claims up to Rs 20 lakhs), Bihar State Commission(above Rs 20 lakhs to Rs 1 crore) and National Commission New Delhi ( more than Rs 1 crore and final appeal).

One can witness our government paying lip service to the Act and also neglecting the Consumer Courts. The ex consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak did nothing to improve conditions there. More than a dozen posts from the rank of executive officers to the post of security guard have been lying vaccant for long. 

At one of my interview on Wednesday, a cabinet minister unofficially admits that “apko kya lagta hai yehan CM aur Supe CM ke icchhaa ke bina hum kuch kar sakte hai”.  He further murmurs that this government withdrew case that goes against its allies. It becomes headline of every daily but in democracy you(media) can’t do more than this, he added. 

The Consumer Courts are in unsatisfactory condition. At regular intervals authorities have been hauled up bye the High Court for not complying its orders, still thing never change. The Hon’ble High Court can order the government, but compliance of order never meets to full. Here as a petitioner you have to beg to authorities for compliance and then they do nothing.

For example on a bus trip from the official Bihar Rajya Paryatan Nigam anywhere from Patna, en route the bus will stop for passengers to have a meal break. The restaurant will have unhygienic loos and wash areas, stalls charge well over MRP, not issue receipts and so on! Why is this exploitation still permitted when eating places are licensed, there are laws to be followed, and a big government organization with departments having many inspectors and enforcing agents to ensure the consumer is protected? 
If a complaint is brought to the Consumer Court, perhaps only that particular defaulter will be pulled up. In fact the government is responsible that such a situation exists in the first place! There is no “ Prevention better than cure” mindset. Complaint is needed for action. We have not been able to control adulteration, cheating and our chalta hai attitude.

Amit Sinha is a bilingual writer and research Journalist. He can be contacted at facebook.amit