Consumer Rights Group Sounds Alarm on Maharashtra's Failing Justice System
The Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat has taken a bold step. They have written directly to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Their core allegation is stark. They claim the state's entire consumer protection framework has grown weak. This weakness, they argue, severely limits ordinary citizens from accessing justice.
Pune's Commissions Highlight Systemic Collapse
The group's letter paints a grim picture, using Pune as a prime example. They report that all three key consumer commissions in the city operate from a single location. This shared space suffers from a critical lack of basic facilities.
- There are not enough proper courtrooms for hearings.
- Seating space for consumers is severely inadequate.
- A dire shortage of manpower cripples daily operations.
The situation reached a breaking point recently. The district consumer commission had to suspend all its work for an entire week. This happened when the state commission's mobile bench visited Pune. The suspension denied hearings to countless consumers, leaving them in limbo.
Statewide Failures and Financial Mismanagement
The problems are not confined to Pune. The Panchayat alleges that district and state consumer commissions across Maharashtra lack fundamental facilities. Because of this, consumers are forced to dig into their own pockets. They must pay to send the required statutory notices, adding financial strain to their quest for justice.
Vijay Sagar of the consumer body expressed deep frustration. "We have followed up with all ministers and officials, but there has been no change. We decided we had no choice but to write to the Chief Minister," he stated.
The group points to a significant failure of implementation. It has been seven years since the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 came into force. Yet, the state government has not provided the promised infrastructure. Proper online facilities and adequate staffing remain elusive.
In a striking contrast, the letter highlights questionable government spending. Little has been done to fix the broken consumer courts. Meanwhile, the government floated e-tenders worth over Rs 1.2 crore. This money was earmarked for consumer awareness advertisements, not for fixing the core system.
Ignoring Supreme Court and Flawed Appointments
The consumer body also referenced the Supreme Court's observations from May 2025. The apex court had commented critically on the functioning of consumer commissions nationwide. The Panchayat alleges that instead of strengthening the system, the Maharashtra government has allowed it to be brought "to a standstill."
Further irregularities plague the system. The letter details significant delays and procedural flaws in appointing chairpersons and members to these commissions over the last three years. These appointment issues have repeatedly drawn adverse remarks from the Supreme Court.
The group also raised objections regarding the Food Commission. They claim consumer protection councils were not constituted on time, and appointments to the Food Commission have been problematic.
Accusations of Anti-Consumer Bias and Demands for Action
The Panchayat's accusations grow more serious. They accuse the state government of adopting an anti-consumer and pro-builder approach. They specifically cite the scrapping of MOFA (the Maharashtra Ownership of Flats Act). This move, they argue, has primarily benefited errant builders at the direct cost of homebuyers and consumers.
The letter concludes with a list of urgent demands for corrective steps:
- The removal of the current consumer protection minister.
- Immediate curbs on advertisement spending.
- Diversion of those funds to actually strengthen consumer commissions.
The Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat has issued a clear warning. If these critical issues are not addressed promptly, they will launch a statewide agitation. The ball is now in the government's court to restore faith in a system meant to protect the common citizen.
