Question : CONSUMER COURTS

(a) the details of consumer courts functioning at district and State levels in the country, State-wise;

(b) the details of assistance provided by the Government for strengthening the infrastructure of such courts in various States;

(c) the details of initiatives taken by the Government to fill up the vacant posts in various consumer fora, alongwith the time by which it is likely to be completed;

(d) whether the Government proposes to instruct the consumer courts to work on the lines of the Lok Adalats to dispense the cases speedily;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K. V. THOMAS)

(a) : As per information received from National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), the details of Consumer Fora functioning at District and State levels in the country, State-wise is at Annexure-I.

(b) : The details of financial assistance provided by the Central Government for strengthening the infrastructure of Consumer Fora in various States are at Annexure-II.

(c) : The details of initiatives taken by the Government to fill up the vacant posts in various Consumer Fora is at Annexure-III.

(d) to (f): The Consumer Fora have been advised by the National Commission to dispose of consumer cases by adopting Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism, including Lok Adalat system. Some of the Consumer Fora are disposing of cases by adopting Lok Adalat system. Statewise details of cases disposed off in Consumer Fora by adopting Lok Adalat method is at Annexure – IV.