SC: Fill vacancies in consumer courts

New Delhi, August 11

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre, states and union territories to take immediate steps to fill up vacancies in national, state and district consumer courts in eight weeks. A Bench led by Justice SK Kaul asked states and UTs, which have not set up selection committees, to form such committees in four weeks to speed up the process.

The top court also gave eight weeks to the Centre to fill the remaining three vacancies in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) after it was told that three of the seven posts in the NCDRC were vacant.

The Bench directed the Centre to do legislative impact study of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, in four weeks, saying no such study was done before the 2019 Act was introduced.

“You are making legislations instantly…You are rushing through other things you can rush through this too,” said the Bench, which had initiated a suo motu PIL on the governments’ in appointing President and Members/Staff of Districts and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and providing inadequate infrastructure to them across India. On behalf of the Centre, Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi said the terms of appointment would be as per the recently enacted Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021.

As Lekhi said he would persuade the authorities to ensure speedy filling of vacancies, the Bench said, “Earlier also you told us that all vacancies at NCDRC will be filled, but you did not fill it up.” It warned states that it would be compelled to summon chief secretaries if they failed to comply with the order. — TNS

HC notice to Ramani on Akbar’s appeal

The Delhi HC on Wednesday issued a notice to journalist Priya Ramani on former Union Minister MJ Akbar’s petition challenging a Delhi court’s order acquitting her in the criminal defamation case filed by him