Urgently Fill Up Vacancies In District & State Consumer Forums: Madras High Court Tells State

A bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy has granted three weeks' time to the State in this regard.

The Court noted that though it is justified that because of the ongoing lockdown and the change in Government in the past few months, the State may not have been able to take appropriate measures; however, it is expedient immediate steps are taken to fill up all vacancies, both at District and State level Commissions.

The order stated,

"It is understandable that because of the lockdown and the change in Government in the past few months, appropriate measures may not have been taken. However, it is necessary, fit and proper that immediate expeditious steps are taken to fill up all vacancies at the District Commission level and also to appoint members of the State Commission."

The Court further, while noting that the President of the State Commission has been appointed as per the law, observed that an official government notification in this regard is awaited. It observed that "immediate steps should be taken in such regard since the nomination is unanimous regarding the appointment of the President."

The order has been passed on a petition filed by Sunil Shete, a businessman represented by counsel Ajay Francis Inigo Loyola.

In February this year, the Supreme Court initiated a suo moto case where it asked the Central Government and all State governments to provide information on pending vacancies in the district and state consumer redressal commissions. The matter is pending before the Apex Court.

In the last hearing (held in April 2021) before a division bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hemant Gupta, the Court noted that while granting additional time, the Union of India and 14 States have not submitted their response to the specific aspects posed in their earlier order.

The matter before the Madras High Court has been posted on July 23, 2021.

Case Title: Mr. Sunil Shete v. Chief Secretary to Government and Another.

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