Supreme Court Directs New Rules for Consumer Commissions' Member Appointments

Supreme Court's Directive on Consumer Commission Appointments

The Supreme Court has instructed the central government to establish new regulations for the selection and appointment of judicial and non-judicial members in consumer commissions within four months.

The apex court clarified that there will be no requirement for a written examination followed by an oral test for the appointments and reappointments of the chairpersons of state commissions, judicial members of state commissions, and chairpersons of district commissions.

The court emphasized that the new regulations should include a provision for a five-year term for these appointments. A bench comprising Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice M.M. Sundresh stated that the composition of the selection committee must ensure that members from the judiciary hold a majority.

The bench remarked, “For this purpose, the selection committee will consist of two members from the judiciary, one of whom will serve as the chairperson, and a third member from the executive. All members will have voting rights.”