The Telangana High Court has issued a strict four-week deadline to the state government to make a decision on establishing district consumer dispute redressal commissions in 23 newly formed districts, emphasizing that the matter requires urgent government attention.
Court's Directive on Consumer Justice
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin delivered this significant order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by law student Akula Sampath Kumar. The bench explicitly stated that "the matter requires urgent attention on the part of the government" and expects a decision within the stipulated four-week period.
Historical Background of District Reorganization
The court noted that since Telangana's formation in 2014, the original 10 districts underwent major reorganization. The state created 21 new districts in October 2016 followed by two additional districts in February 2019, bringing the total to 33 districts. However, despite this administrative expansion, no District Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions have been established in these 23 new districts to date.
Legal Proceedings and Government Response
The PIL sought directions to both the Telangana Government and the Centre to establish consumer forums in compliance with Section 28 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. During the hearing, the state counsel informed the court that "the issue is under active consideration of the government." The bench observed that no counter-affidavit had been filed in the matter despite previous opportunities.
The petitioner had specifically requested that the new district commissions be adequately staffed, funded, and equipped to handle consumer disputes efficiently. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 22, 2025, and directed the state counsel to file a compliance affidavit by that date.
