Nearly 50,258 realty cases pending in consumer courts

According to government data, over 50,000 cases related to real estate are pending in consumer courts. In a written response to the Lok Sabha, B L Verma, the Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs, provided details on the cases pending in consumer commissions concerning real estate. The data indicates that a total of 244,813 cases have been filed in consumer courts at national, state, and district levels. Of these, 194,555 cases have been disposed of, leaving 50,258 cases pending as of July 31, 2024. Verma explained that the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 establishes a three-tier quasi-judicial framework at the district, state, and central levels, commonly referred to as 'Consumer Commissions', aimed at protecting consumer rights and ensuring simple and speedy resolution of disputes. He noted that the Act simplifies the adjudication process within consumer commissions, allowing consumers to file complaints directly, participate in virtual hearings, and ensuring that complaints are deemed admissible if a decision on admissibility is not made within 21 days of filing. Verma added that Section 38(7) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 mandates that every complaint should be resolved as quickly as possible, with an effort to decide complaints within three months from the date of notice receipt by the opposing party, provided the complaint does not require analysis or testing of commodities. If analysis or testing is necessary, the timeframe extends to five months. He also mentioned that the e-Daakhil portal has been launched in 35 states and union territories to enable aggrieved consumers to register online complaints in various consumer commissions from anywhere in India.

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