New Delhi: The consumer affairs ministry said over 574,000 cases are pending before consumer dispute redressal commissions in the country, even as the government highlighted steps to expedite disposal through digital platforms and virtual hearings.
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs BL Verma said that as of January 2026, a total of 574,333 cases were being heard at various levels in consumer forums.
The data shows that 16,382 cases are pending before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), 121,922 before the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions (SCDRCs) and 436,029 before the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions (DCDRCs).
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The government reiterated that under the Consumer Protection Act 2019, complaints are to be dealt with within three months if testing of goods is not required and within five months if testing is involved. The law also discourages unnecessary delays.
Vacancies in commissions
The ministry also told the Lok Sabha that a total of 641 posts remain vacant in state and district consumer commissions as on December 31, 2025.
“At state commission level, 18 posts of president and 75 posts of members are vacant. At district commission level, 169 posts of president and 379 posts of members are vacant,” the Lok Sabha ministry said.
According to the ministry, states with high vacancy include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal, especially at the district level. Uttar Pradesh alone has 21 vacant posts of district commission chairpersons and 36 vacant posts of members.
The government has clarified that under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, filling vacancies in state and district commissions is the responsibility of the state governments. According to Rule 6(4) of the 2020 Appointments Rules, the recruitment process must start at least six months before a vacancy occurs.
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The numbers point to structural strains in the consumer redress system, particularly at the county level, where the bulk of cases are filed. With more than 436,000 cases pending at district commissions alone, delays at the local level continue to impact everyday consumers looking for quick help.
Consumer rights groups said the vacancy situation directly affects liquidation timelines. “While digital platforms are helpful, the real bottleneck is manpower. With nearly 400 membership posts vacant at the district level, consumers inevitably face longer wait times,” said Ashim Sanyal, CEO of Consumer Voice, a consumer advocacy group.
“Time-limited liquidation provisions become meaningless if the benches are not fully occupied,” he said.
Liquidation performance
In terms of measures to improve case management, the ministry highlighted the launch of the ‘e-Jagriti’ portal on January 1, 2025, which will integrate the earlier systems into a unified digital architecture.
The portal enables online filing of complaints, digital filing of documents, online payment of fees and supports virtual courtrooms. Video conferencing facility has been installed in 10 benches of NCDRC and 35 benches of state commissions.
According to the government, several state commissions achieved clearance rates above 100% after July 2025. In 2025, 162,474 cases were filed while 150,197 were disposed of – an improvement over the level of 2024. Additionally, by December 2025, 572 NRIs registered complaints from abroad through the portal.
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However, legal experts noted that digital integration alone cannot solve the systemic lag. “Technology can make submissions and hearings more efficient, but decision-making ultimately depends on adequate judicial capacity. Without timely appointments, dependency is likely to persist,” said Manish Kr. Shubhay, an expert in multidisciplinary dispute resolution and a partner at The Precept-Law Offices. “Statutory three- and five-month disposal targets are often difficult to meet in high-burden states,” he said.