Consumer Justice Report 2026: Pendency, Vacancies & Gaps in India’s Consumer Courts

The India Justice Report released the Consumer Justice Report 2026 and highlighted major weaknesses in India’s consumer grievance redressal system.

Key Highlights of Consumer Justice Report 2026

• Rising Case Pendency
  • Case pendency increased by 21% between 2020 and 2024.
  • The number of cases rose from about 88,000 to over 5.15 lakh.
  • More than one-third of cases remained pending for over three years.
  • The system failed to follow timelines under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which requires disposal within 3–5 months.
• Severe Vacancy Crisis
  • Nearly half of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions (SCDRCs) and one-third of district commissions were functioning without a president.
  • Nearly 40% of sanctioned member posts were vacant.
• Lack of Transparency
  • Many State Commissions did not share data under RTI.
  • District Commissions showed better transparency in comparison.
• Regional Disparities
  • States like Kerala, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir reported 70–80% cases pending for over three years.
  • Andhra Pradesh performed best in case disposal among large states.
  • Telangana ranked last in performance.
  • Maharashtra recorded high case filings but cleared fewer cases.
• Gender Representation
  • Women’s representation declined from 35% in 2021 to 29% in 2025.
  • Only Delhi and Sikkim appointed women Presidents in 2024.

Recommendations

• The government should fill vacancies through time-bound appointments.
• Authorities should improve staffing and infrastructure.
• Commissions should ensure greater transparency in data sharing.
• The system should promote mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

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