Kerala consumer complaint backlog surges 76% to over 26,600 cases

Kerala's district-level consumer commissions are grappling with a severe backlog crisis, with pending cases climbing to 26,668—a jump of nearly 76 percent since December 2023, according to data submitted by an amicus curiae before the Supreme Court. The sharp rise in pendency underscores mounting delays in the disposal of consumer grievances across the state's judicial infrastructure. The accumulation of cases has created significant bottlenecks in the redressal of consumer disputes, leaving complainants waiting extended periods for resolution of their grievances. Kerala's backlog is now nearly twice that of Karnataka and more than six times larger than Tamil Nadu's pending caseload, highlighting the disproportionate pressure on the state's consumer justice system. The dramatic surge raises concerns about the adequacy of judicial resources allocated to consumer commissions in Kerala, where the volume of cases has far outpaced the capacity for timely adjudication. Legal experts and consumer advocacy groups have flagged the delays as a critical impediment to effective consumer protection, particularly for lower-income households dependent on the affordable dispute resolution mechanism. The Supreme Court's review of the matter signals potential intervention to address systemic bottlenecks and ensure speedier case disposal across Indian consumer commissions.