Fill consumer disputes panel vacancies in eight weeks: SC

Source: The Hindu

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has given the Centre and the States eight weeks to fill the vacancies in the consumer disputes redressal commissions.

What is the issue?

1. The court was hearing a suo motu case on inaction in appointing president and members/staff of Districts and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and inadequate infrastructure across India.
2. It highlighted that vacancies are hurting consumers by delaying the redressal of disputes. Hence, it has directed Central and State Governments to fill up the vacancies within 8 weeks.
3. Moreover, the court has also asked the Central Government to conduct a comprehensive “legislative impact study” on the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

Click Here to Read about Consumer Protection Act,2019

About NCDRC:

1. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission(NCDRC) is a quasi-judicial commission that was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. Its head office is in New Delhi. 
2. The commission is headed by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court of India.

About Legislative impact assessment:

Legislative impact assessment is an informed law-making process under which social, economic, environmental and institutional impacts of legislative proposals are made.