Norms for Consumer Court

Supreme Court eases norms for Consumer Court

• The Supreme Court used its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to attract younger talent to preside over consumer courts by reducing the mandatory professional experience from 20 to 10 years.
• In a judgment, a Bench of Justices also introduced written exams and viva voce to check the candidates’ performance.
  • The written test would have two papers on subjects like current affairs, the Constitution, consumer laws, drafting, etc. There would be a viva voce too.
• The judgment noted that the government has proposed several amendments to the Consumer Protection (Qualification for appointment, method of recruitment,
• Procedure of appointment, term of office, resignation, and removal of President and Members of State Commission and District Commission) Rules, 2020.
  • The court said its judgment would fill the vacuum until the amendments were made in the 2020 Rules.

Consumer courts

• Established consumer courts under the Consumer Protection Act to safeguard the interest of consumers.
• Deals with consumer complaints, disputes, and grievances. 
• To ensure speedy resolution of disputes with minimum inconvenience and expense to consumers.
• Consumer Courts have proven to be the most effective way to provide a remedy to Consumers and address their grievances. 
  • Filing a complaint is very easy and cost-effective, unlike other forms of litigation.
  • The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 promulgates a three-tier quasi-judicial mechanism for the redressal of consumer disputes namely district commissions, state commissions, and national commissions. 
  • The Act also stipulates the pecuniary jurisdiction of each tier of consumer commission. 
  • District Commissions have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services paid as consideration does not exceed one crore rupees.
  • State Commissions have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services paid as consideration, exceeds 1 crore rupees but does not exceed 10 crore rupees and
  • The National Commission has jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of goods or services paid as consideration exceeds 10 crore rupees.
• Recently, the 4th edition of National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) commenced in the Central Hall of Parliament.
• Theme: “Ideas for a Better tomorrow: India for the World”. 
  • More than 2.01 Lakh youth from 748 Districts of all States and UTs participated at 150 venues across the country.

Practice Questions for Prelims

Consider the following statements regarding Consumer Court :
1. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides a three-tier quasi-judicial mechanism for the redressal of consumer disputes.
2. The Supreme Court reduced the mandatory professional experience from 20 to 10 years to be appointed in consumer court.
3. The Supreme Court also introduced written exams and viva voce to check the candidates’ performance.

Choose the correct code:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) All of the above

ans. d)

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