Thousands wait longer for justice as Mumbai consumer courts face staff shortage

Thousands of Mumbaikars are waiting longer than ever for justice as staff shortages cripple consumer courts despite presidents being in place between 2021 and 2025 according to the latest Consumer Justice Report released on Wednesday March 18Not a single year saw full member strength across the four Mumbai District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions DCDRCs By 2025 three operated with just one member while Mumbai Suburban Additional had both seats vacant for three straight years 20232025Maharashtra ranked 11th among 19 states while Andhra Pradesh topped and Telangana ranked last highlighting widening gaps in consumer justice deliverylsquoSTRONG SYSTEM NEEDEDrsquoValay Singh project lead India Justice ReportlsquoMumbai Indiarsquos financial capital which has some of the highest household consumption levels deserves a stronger consumer redressal system Yet its four district commissions cleared only 36 per cent of 4388 cases 20222025 No year saw all posts filled and staff shortages persist With cases pending beyond three years despite a sixmonth mandate the system is failing to keep pace with the cityrsquos growing consumer demandrsquoRTI revelationsThe Mumbai Suburban DCDRC has gaps in representation case clearance and fund utilisation according to RTI dataRepresentation Between 2021 and 2025 the commission never appointed a woman member reporting a woman representative only in 2023 when the president was femaleCaseload From 20222025 the four Mumbai DCDRCs cleared just 36 per cent of 4388 cases Mumbai Suburban performed worst at 195 per cent clearing only five per cent of 575 cases in 2024 Central Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban together handled over 60 per cent of filingsBudget Mumbai Suburban received R133 crore 47 per cent of total R286 crore but utilised only 41 per cent dropping to 26 per cent in 202425 Other commissions fully utilised funds in 202324Impact Experts warn that vacancies low case clearance and poor fund utilisation undermine consumer confidence in Mumbairsquos grievance redressal systemEmpty desks growing pressureThe shortage extends beyond decisionmakers Courtrooms are being supported by incomplete teams stretching already limited resources On average one in three staff positions remained unfilled No commission achieved full staffing in five years In South Mumbai vacancies actually increased over time Two suburban commissions operated without any data management staff at allIn a digital age where case tracking and efficiency depend on data systems this absence raises serious concernsWhy this matters Mumbai is not just Indiarsquos financial capital but also one of its busiest consumer markets Disputes from real estate to online shopping are growing in volume and complexity With rising consumer spending across Maharashtra especially beyond metros the burden on courts is set to increaseWoman power Mumbairsquos consumer courts largely complied with gender representation norms In 2023 all four commissions had women presidents Women held most member positions marking a rare snapshot of inclusivity Consistency not sustained across all years highlighting ongoing gapsA national problemAcross 51 consumer commissions in India Over 60000 cases were filed between 2022 and 2024 While 82 per cent were disposed of many lingered for years Some cities have never even appointed a president Only one commission in the country reported zero vacanciesExpert viewLegal experts warn that vacancies are not just administrative lapses they directly impact justice delivery Fewer members mean slower hearings longer waits and growing frustration among citizens ldquoFor a city that never stops even a small delay can feel like a lifetime Until vacant chairs are filled and systems strengthened Mumbairsquos promise of quick consumer justice risks remaining just that a promiserdquo said Valay SinghMumbai District Commissionsrsquo Staff 20212025Staff actualDISTRICT COMMISSIONS20212022202320242025Central Mumbai8 411 610511 811 7Mumbai Suburban87897Mumbai Suburban Additional66766South Mumbai9 57 411510 56 4Staff vacancyDISTRICT COMMISSIONS20212022202320242025Central Mumbai333831678383Mumbai Suburban273364273182354Mumbai Suburban Additional400400300400400South Mumbai2541783167500Note Women staff as reported in bracketsSource RTI responses received between April to June 2025