Consumer courts under strain: Report flags rise in vacancies, dip in women's share
India Today
India's consumer dispute redressal system is facing mounting stress, with rising vacancies, declining representation of women, and weak use of mediation mechanisms, according to the Consumer Justice Report 2026 by the India Justice Report.
A new assessment of India’s consumer dispute reparation system has flagged deep structural gaps, from falling gender representation to mounting vacancies, raising concerns over the effectiveness of consumer justice delivery.
The Consumer Justice Report 2026, released by the India Justice Report (IJR), draws on RTI data and official records to map the state of Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions across the country. It highlights persistent shortcomings in staffing, infrastructure, diversity, and case management.
Despite a legal mandate under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 requiring at least one woman member in district and state commissions, compliance remains weak.
The report notes that women’s representation in State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions has declined from 35% in 2021 to 29% in 2025, dipping to a low of 23.2% in 2024. Only Delhi and Sikkim reported having a woman president on their state commissions in 2024.
The trend raises questions about both statutory compliance and broader commitments to gender inclusion in quasi-judicial bodies.
Staff shortages continue to be a major bottleneck. As of 2025, only four state commissions had full staffing, while nearly 40% of member posts across state and district levels remained vacant.
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