Consumer panel jobs: SC warns of imposing exemplary costs on states

The top court had appointed senior advocate Gopal Shankaranarayan and lawyer Aaditya Narain as amicus curiae to assist it in the matter

The Supreme Court on Wednesday warned of imposing exemplary costs on state governments in case of failure to submit a status report within a week regarding the vacancies, including on the infrastructure, in State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission.

A bench of Justices S K Kaul and M M Sundresh said it would take stern action if reports are not submitted and a cost of Rs 2 lakh will be imposed on them which will be recovered from officers.

"The counsel for states assured that the deficiencies would be addressed within a week. We remind the defaulting states that we will take stern