Chennai: Tamil Nadu govt’s refusal to appoint an additional member to the state consumer disputes redressal commission, expressing financial constraints, has shocked Madras high court.
Expressing dismay over the state’s stance, the first bench of Chief Justice K R Shriram and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq said: “It has almost been 22 months since the letter (by the president of the commission) was addressed and no steps were taken.

In our view, that reflects a lack of interest in addressing these issues.”
The court made the observation on a suo motu plea initiated by the court against the Tamil Nadu govt. When the plea came up for hearing, the court-appointed amicus curiae tendered an interim note dated Feb 6, in which he recommended an exhaustive list of deficiencies that impede the speedy and efficient disposal of cases at the state and district consumer commissions.
“The amicus highlighted the requirement of an additional member, the absence of enforcement mechanisms, the absence of stenographers, the need to upgrade or replace the existing infrastructure, and the appointment of dedicated research assistants,” the court said.
The court then directed the state to file an affidavit in this matter by an officer not below the rank of additional chief secretary, consumer protection department, and adjourned the hearing to Feb 20.