The Supreme Court has directed all state governments to immediately pay the salaries and perquisites of chairpersons and members of state and district consumer redressal bodies as per existing rules.

The Court was hearing a Writ Petition concerning the salaries and service conditions of consumer forum members.

The Bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice N.K. Singh also directed the Central Government to take a decision regarding the amendment of the Consumer Protection (Salary, Allowances, and Conditions of Service of President and Members of the State Commission and District Commission) Model Rules, 2020.

“We direct all the state governments to ensure that, without prejudice to various contentions raised in this group of cases, salary and perquisites as per existing state rules shall be immediately paid to the chairpersons/members,” the Bench said.

Senior Advocate Nachiketa Joshi appeared for the Petiitoner, while ASG K.M. Nataraj appeared for the Respondents, and Senior Advocate Gopal Sankar Narayanan was the Amicus.

The Court further warned that if the Centre failed to take a decision on the amendment, it would consider exercising its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution. "Considering the seriousness of the issue, unless some solution is found by the Government of India, we will have to consider of exercising our jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution of India," it said.

The Bench also noted that in case of non-compliance by any State, the aggrieved parties could inform the amicus curiae, allowing the Court to take further action. "In the event compliance is not made by some of the State Governments, the concerned parties are free to hand over a note to that effect to the learned Amicus Curiae so that the Court can pass appropriate order," the Bench ordered.

Cause Title: In Re Pay and Allowance of the Members of the U.P. State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission [Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 1144/2021]

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Justice Abhay S OkaJustice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh

Sukriti Mishra

    Sukriti Mishra was a Legal Correspondent at Verdictum. She covered the Supreme Court. She completed her graduation with BA. LL.B (Hons.) from The ICFAI University, Dehradun. Sukriti started covering courts in March 2022. She had previously worked with another legal news portal, where she covered the Delhi High Court and Trial Courts.