The Delhi High Court has directed Delhi government to ensure expeditious appointment of members and Presidents of the various District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions(DCDRC) and finalize the appointment within four months.
A single judge bench of Justice Prathiba M. Singh noted, “it is directed that DCDRC ought to ensure that such delays in pronouncement of orders does not occur in the future.”
The petition has been filed by Manish Gulati alleging that his petition before the DCDRC was heard in July 2018 and orders were reserved, however the same were not pronounced. Thereafter, the matter was again heard on August 20, 2019 and reserved, however no orders had been pronounced until the last date of hearing.
Senior Advocate Kavin Gulati appearing for the petitioner submitted that in furtherance of Court’s last order his client has been served with an order purportedly dated February 21 but bearing a seal of March 2.
The bench noted that as per the report submitted by the President of the DCDRC there is no case pending in which the final orders are to be passed. However, “there are several vacancies for the post of members at the DCDRC, and in the case of one of the members, the tenure came to an end and though the final arguments were heard in certain matters, orders could not be passed. Thus, there was a need for re-hearing of the matters.”
It was further submitted,
“out of 10 DCDRCs, there are no Presidents in 7 DCDRCs, and the remaining three Presidents have been given additional charge of the 7 DCDRCs, that do not have presidents of their own. There is also a shortage of staff that is reported. Thus, they submit that the routine functioning of DCDRC is adversely being affected due to lack of staff and lack of timely appointments.”
The bench disposed of the petition directing DCDRC to ensure that such delay in pronouncement of orders does not occur in the future and Delhi government to ensure expeditious appointments of all the members and the Presidents of the various DCDRCs.