A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Madhya Pradesh High Court concerning the state’s failure to appoint presidents to 31 out of 51 District Consumer Forums, despite a 2018 undertaking to do so. The PIL was initiated based on a letter from Dr. P.G. Najpande, President of the Nagarik Upbhokta Magdarshan Manch, highlighting the issue. The High Court has treated this letter as a PIL and is scheduled to hear the matter on May 2, 2025.

The absence of presidents in these forums has led to delays in the disposal of consumer complaints, increased case pendency, and denial of timely justice to aggrieved consumers. The government had previously given an undertaking in 2018 to complete the appointment process by August 31, 2018, but the vacancies remain unfilled.

In response to the PIL, the High Court has directed the petitioner to file a Vakalatnama and assist the court on the issue within one week.

This development underscores the ongoing challenges in the timely appointment of officials to consumer forums, impacting the delivery of justice to consumers.

Sources