District Forums can't handle bigger caseload

Earlier it took 4-10 years. But with a five-fold increase in pecuniary jurisdiction, it could now take 15-25 years for a case to be decided

Even though it may seem excellent in theory, the pursuit of justice is unviable under the new Consumer Protection Act, and it will spell the death knell of consumer rights, defeating the very objective of the legislation.

To get a perspective, let us consider the scenario under the old Act. The District Consumer Forums, with a pecuniary limit of Rs 20 lakh, are located mostly in premises that are too small, especially in urban areas where more cases are filed and there is a scarcity of space. So, files spill over into the corridors and there is hardly any place