Vacancies in Odisha Consumer Commission cripple justice, 13 judgments delivered in 3 yrs

Bhubaneswar: The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) in Odisha has been operating in a near-paralysed state, with no stenographer on duty for almost 14 months, and members forced to write all orders and judgments by hand.The current situation is slowing down the justice delivery system, with case disposal falling to a snail’s pace. Between Jan 2023 and Dec 2025, the commission delivered only 13 judgments on merit, an RTI reply confirmed.The officiating president repeatedly flagged the crisis in letters to the chief secretary and the food supplies and consumer welfare department for over a year but nothing changed.A letter dated Jan 20, 2025, received through the RTI, noted: “At present, no single stenographer is available since Jan 10, 2025. This commission is seriously handicapped to dispose of cases,” the letter read.Another letter by the officiating president on March 7, 2025, warned: “We are constrained to write the daily orders and judgments by hand only. The court work is being hampered due to absence of the stenographer.”In the commission, multiple posts remained vacant, including those of private secretary, personal assistant, assistant registrar, stenographers and junior assistants. The commission told the govt that the number of members doubled from two to four though no corresponding increase in support staff was made.It also recorded the absence of any accountant, and even salary delays for Feb 2025 until now. The collapse in manpower derailed statutory timelines. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, complaints must be listed within 21 days of filing.The commission admitted it was unable to comply: “Records are not being placed before the benches within 21 days, defeating the aim and objective of the Act.” “This is pure failure of the govt. Consumers Courts should not stop functioning,” social worker Alok Kar said.The scale of pendency is staggering. The RTI response revealed that original complaints were pending since 2000, while first appeals dated back to 2003 on the e-Jagriti portal. “As per rule, a case should be disposed in 60 days, but here it is taking decades,” Kar said.Despite escalating the crisis to the chief secretary, the high court registrar-general, the National Commission and the ministry of consumer affairs, the SCDRC said no corrective action was taken. In one letter, the officiating president warned bluntly that consumers were suffering a lot due to inaction by the authorities.The commission sought immediate posting of five stenographers, filling up all vacant Class III and IV posts, and use of the Consumer Welfare Fund to strengthen manpower and infrastructure. Pending action, Odisha’s apex consumer court continues to function with handwritten orders, skeletal staff and a disposal rate that underscores a system in deep distress.