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The Supreme Court on Wednesday slammed State Governments for not filing their responses in a suo-motu matter pertaining to the vacancies in the Consumer Commissions.

A division bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice MM Sundaresh said, “We’ll take very serious view of this and impose heavy cost on the States”.

The bench was hearing a suo motu petition related to the issue of inaction of Governments in appointing President and members/staff of Districts and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions across India.

Amicus Curiae Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan informed the bench that all the States have not filed reports.

Sankaranarayanan submitted that the State of Gujarat has not filed its report, State of Goa has not filed report on staff, whereas, State of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala, Punjab and Telangana have not filed records of other information.

The bench noted that if the States want this, the Court will impose heavy cost on States and recover it from the officers responsible.

The bench penned that the Court have been informed, "Most of the states have sent their responses but despite our order dated 22.10.2021, some of the states have not sent full information. "
On October 22, Top Court had directed the States to continue with the process of appointments, in light of the inaction of Governments in appointing the Presidents & Members of Districts & State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions & Inadequate Infrastructure across India.

The Court has listed the matter for further hearing on December 1, 2021.

Case Title: RE: Inaction of the Governments in appointing President and Members/Staff of Districts and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and inadequate infrastructure across India vs. Union of India and ors.| SMW (C)02/2021