Composition, Jurisdiction, and Procedure of Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

The ‘State Commission’ (or) consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is one of the Consumer Disputes Redressal agencies dealt under sections 16 to 19. Each State Commission consists of;-

a) A person who is, or has been a judge of High Court, appointed by the state government, who shall be its president.

b) 2 other members who shall be persons of ability, integrity, and standing, and have the adequate knowledge (or) experience of, (or) have shown capacity in dealing with, problems relating to economics, law, commerce, accountancy, industry, public affairs (or) administration, one of who shall be a woman.

However, every appointment shall be made by the state government on the recommendation of a selection committee consisting of:-

1. The president of the state commission (i.e.., chairman),

2. Secretary, Law Department of the state (i.e.., member),

3. Secretary in charge of the Department with consumer affairs in the state (i.e., member)

Every member of the District Forum shall hold office for a term of 5 years (or) up to the age of 67 years, whichever is earlier. He shall not be eligible for re-appointment.

Jurisdiction:

According to section 17, The State Commission shall have jurisdiction:-

a) To entertain complaints where the value of the goods (or) services and the compensation, if any, claimed does not exceed Rs. 5 lakhs but does not exceed Rs. 20 lakhs; and

b) Appeal against the orders of any district forum within the state.

c) To call for records and pass appropriate orders in any consumer dispute which is pending before (or) has been decided by any district forum which the state where it appears to the state commission that such district forum has exercised a jurisdiction not vested in it by law (or) has failed to exercise its jurisdiction so vested (or) has acted in exercise of its jurisdiction illegally (or) with material irregularity.

d) The jurisdiction of the state commission shall be subject to other provisions of the Act.

Procedure:

According to section 18, the provisions of sections 12, 13, & 14 the rules made thereunder for the disposal of complaints by the district forum with such modifications as may be necessary be applicable to the disposal of the disputes by the state commission.