Ahmedabad: A severe staff shortage is crippling the consumer grievance redressal system in Gujarat, with 27 consumer commissions, including the Gujarat State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, operating without full-time presidents. This leadership vacuum is compounded by 48 vacant positions for non-government members and 152 unfilled support staff posts across these commissions.
RTI Reveals Critical Vacancies
The data, obtained from the food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs department by the NGO All India Consumer Protection and Action Committee through a Right to Information (RTI) query, highlights the extent of the crisis. The vacancies have led to a surge in pending cases and prolonged adjournments, leaving consumers as the ultimate sufferers, according to Mukesh Parikh, president of the committee.
Pending Cases Mount
The staff shortage has severely bottlenecked the grievance redressal system. Out of 3.22 lakh complaints filed in district commissions since January 1990, 45,167 cases remain pending. At the state level, 5,847 out of 43,241 appeals and complaints are unresolved. Ahmedabad district alone accounts for 11,806 pending cases across its three consumer commissions.
Government Response
Responding to the RTI query, the department cited a Supreme Court order dated May 21, 2025, which directed the Centre to amend appointment rules within four months and ordered state governments to complete appointments within four months of that amendment. The department stated its intention to make the appointments.
Concerns Over Delays
However, Parikh noted that even a year after the Supreme Court set a clear deadline, the vacancies persist, and in-charge presidents continue to run operations. Keeping these sanctioned posts empty is only aggravating the problems for litigants.
