The Supreme Court on Wednesday rued that it was doing the work which was not supposed to be done by it and asked the states to take steps to fill up vacancies in the Districts and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions as per its orders or be “careful in future" as their chief secretaries may be summoned.
The top court, hearing a suo motu case titled ‘Inaction of the Governments in appointing President and Members/Staff of Districts and State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and inadequate infrastructure across India', also cautioned states against the possibility of lapse of central funds for developing infrastructure in courts if they fail to give their share into the fund.
“Grant for non-building and building have to be disbursed in 50:50 ratio. The state-wise status of pending unutilised financial assistance has been placed before us as on September 1, What this annexure reflects is the large part of pending funds is in the category of utilisation certificate (UC)
“This does not portray a very happy situation, the same requires planning by the states so that the funds do not lapse..,” a bench comprising justices S K Kaul and M M Sunderesh said.
The top court perused the report and suggestions of amicus curiae and senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan and analysed the steps taken by all the states in filling up vacancies in district consumer courts and the state consumer disputes redressal commissions (SCDRCs).
The bench was critical of Rajasthan and warned the counsel that it would be summoning the state Chief Secretary on the next date of hearing for getting the requisite information.
“Actually, what we are doing is not our job,” the bench said, adding that it cannot take the specific issues of each state and they should be communicating with the amicus curiae who in turn will apprise the court through his reports and suggestions.
“What is the position. You are a single state which does not seem to follow the discipline. If you feel that the presence of the Chief Secretary is necessary, then we will call them. We will have no difficulties in summoning the chief secretaries...The states should be careful in future,” the bench said and fixed the case for hearing on February 23.