Crisis in Consumer Courts: Vacancies and Backlogs Undermine Justice System

A new report reveals severe understaffing and a backlog of over five lakh cases in consumer courts across India. With more than half the roles unfilled, the effectiveness of grievance redressal remains compromised. The backlog grew by 21% between 2020-2024, eroding consumer confidence in the system.

A groundbreaking report highlights a critical crisis in India's consumer grievance redressal system. According to the Consumer Justice Report by the India Justice Report (IJR), significant staffing vacancies and mounting backlog are undermining the functionality of consumer courts.

The report, spanning 2021 to 2025, underscores a troubling 21% increase in case backlogs, from 87,545 to 5.15 lakh cases. Despite mandates for swift resolution, many states witness cases pending for over three years, shaking consumer faith in the legal mechanism.

The study calls for urgent reform, stressing the need for timely appointments, enhanced staff levels matching caseloads, and greater reliance on alternative dispute resolution methods to improve efficiency and restore consumer trust.

(With inputs from agencies.)