Group writes to CM over poor infra in consumer commissions

Pune: The Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis alleging that Maharashtra’s consumer protection system had weakened, limiting citizens’ access to justice. The group flagged poor infrastructure, acute staff shortage and multiple consumer commissions functioning from the same premises.The consumer rights group said in its letter that all three consumer commissions in Pune operated from one location without adequate courtrooms, seating space or manpower. It claimed that the district consumer commission was forced to suspend work for one week denying hearings to consumers when the state commission’s mobile bench visited the city. “We have followed up with all ministers and officials, but there has been no change. We decided to write to the CM,” said Vijay Sagar of the consumer body.

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The Panchayat alleged that district and state consumer commissions across Maharashtra lacked basic facilities, forcing consumers to spend out of their own pocket to send statutory notices. It said that seven years after the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the state had failed to provide proper infrastructure, online facilities or adequate staffing.The group referred to Supreme Court’s observations in May 2025 on the functioning of consumer commissions and alleged that the state allowed the system to be brought “to a standstill” instead of strengthening it. The letter said little was done to improve the functioning of consumer courts, while the govt floated e-tenders worth over Rs1.2 crore for consumer awareness advertisements, said Sagar.The letter also alleged delays and irregularities in the appointment of chairpersons and members of consumer commissions over the last three years, something that had repeatedly drawn adverse remarks from the apex court. It claimed that consumer protection councils were not constituted on time and raised objections to appointments to the Food Commission.Accusing the govt of adopting an anti-consumer and pro-builder approach, the group said scrapping of MOFA benefited errant builders at the cost of consumers.The group sought corrective steps in the letter and demanded removal of the consumer protection minister, curbs on advertisement spending and diversion of funds to strengthen consumer commissions. The group has warned of a statewide agitation if issues were not addressed.

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