Kochi, Oct 9 The Kerala High Court has observed that the state government has to ensure that all required infrastructural facilities are provided on time to all the courts, tribunals and commissions for their smooth functioning.
A bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V M made the observation while directing the government to provide the Finance Department with all particulars to enable it to create new posts in the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions across all districts in Keralam.
The court directed that the details be provided within three weeks of October 7, the date of its order, as the commissions are facing serious infrastructural issues and the orders passed by them were remaining unexecuted due to lack of manpower and infrastructure.
The bench said that the issue should be given priority as the functioning of the commissions has been adversely affected due to the staff shortage.
"It is the responsibility of the state government to ensure that all required infrastructural facilities are provided in time for all the courts, tribunals, commissions, etc., for their smooth functioning," it said.
The direction and observation came after the government had told the court that an administrative sanction for an amount of Rs one crore for the Scheme 'Modernisation and Strengthening of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and District Commissions' had been issued on October 5, 2026.
It had also told the court that for the creation of new posts, a proposal for creation of 229 posts in the Consumer Commissions has been initiated and is under consideration at the government level.
The government had also told the bench that the Finance Department has called for further particulars, including the work study for creation of the new posts, details of permanent and temporary posts in the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, and the source of funds for meeting the expenditure consequent upon creation of the new posts.
"All particulars as required by the Finance Department shall be furnished within a period of three weeks from date in order to enable the department to take a final decision with regard to the creation of new posts," the court directed.
The direction came on a public interest litigation moved by a lawyer, J Surya, seeking expeditious appointments to the commissions which were facing a staff shortage.
