Time has come for permanent consumer courts: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday observed that permanent consumer courts should replace consumer commissions which are manned by retired judicial officers on ad-hoc basis. .Judges should be appointed to such courts on a permanent basis in the same manner as it is done for district judiciary, the Court opined..The observation was made by Justice MM Sundresh during the hearing of the suo motu case regarding vacancies in District and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions. "Time has come for us to have a permanent court for consumer court and have judges like we select it for district and higher judiciary. You select someone at 35 (years of age) and then there is no accountability, where will the system develop? We have to rethink if we go on with ad hoc continuance of members for 5 years etc,” he stated..The judge also remarked that functioning of such consumer courts would be better streamlined if High Court are entrusted with a supervisory role.“If the high courts are entrusted to man the courts and appoint judges etc then it will be much better. Accountability will also be attached to it. We need to have a different perspective to it," he said.Justice Sundresh also asked whether retired judicial officer will have the motivation to contribute and work "Whats the point of having a retired judicial officer and whats the motivation for him what will be his mindset? is it really required for the development of the institution," the judge said..During the course of the hearing, the Bench which also comprised Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul remarked that "it is unfortunate that the Supreme Court is being called upon to examine and fill up vacancies in tribunals”..Not a very happy situation when judiciary has to look into tribunal vacancies: Supreme Court.This is not the first time that the Supreme Court is expressing its displeasure at the Centre's approach towards filling up vacancies in tribunals besides passing laws contrary to the top court's judgments.A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana has been frequently pulling up the government for its lackadaisical approach towards tribunals.Read a detailed account of todays's hearing here.