Consumers win cases, but justice delayed

Time of India

5 days ago

Hyderabad: For many consumers in Hyderabad, winning a case at a consumer commission no longer guarantees justice. Despite securing favourable verdicts, many are left waiting years to receive compensation.
Increasingly, they're being forced to file Execution Applications (EAs), a step that was meant to be rare but has now become routine just to get the commission's orders enforced.
Even then, the wait continues. Consumers complain of bureaucratic delays, indifferent companies, and a system with few teeth to ensure compliance. As a result, many end up spending more time and money trying to enforce the verdict than they did pursuing the case.
Shreyansh K, a resident of LB Nagar who filed an EA many years ago, said, "I filed my complaint in 2014, and in 2019, the commission awarded me Rs 2 lakh. But even after filing multiple EAs, I haven't received a single rupee till now."
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A senior official from one of the city's consumer commissions admitted that EA filings have surged in recent years.
"Getting a favourable judgment is tough. Getting it implemented is even tougher.
Each of the four commissions in Hyderabad has over 250 to 300 pending execution applications," the official said.
Many advocates attribute the crisis to poor enforcement mechanisms. "Consumer commissions can pass binding orders, but can't ensure compliance. Many firms delay payments or appeal to higher forums just to stall execution," said TV Rajeshwar Rao, president of the Hyderabad District Consumer Fora Advocates Association.
"Without the help of enforcement agencies like the police, warrants and compensation orders are often ignored. And when the opposite party disappears, there's little that can be done," he added.
As the backlog grows, consumer trust in the system is beginning to erode. What was supposed to be a quick and effective dispute redressal forum is increasingly seen as another stop in a long, uncertain legal journey.
What's an Execution Application?
When the party at fault does not comply with a consumer commission's order within 30-45 days, the complainant can file an Execution Application under Section 27A of Consumer Protection Act.
It seeks enforcement through legal means. The EA remains pending until proof of compliance is submitted by the opposite party.
A LONG WAIT FOR SOME…
Bank ignores order in FD case
Mohammed Zareena, a resident of Madhapur, approached the district consumer commission-III after her bank deducted money from a five-year fixed deposit to settle her husband's credit card dues. Last year, the commission ruled in her favour and ordered the bank to refund Rs 1.7 lakh and pay Rs 50,000 as compensation.
The bank ignored the ruling. Zareena filed an EA, but it's still pending, with no recovery in sight.
Dealer leaves buyer in limbo
Mandala Laxminarayana, a resident of Secunderabad, bought a second-hand car for Rs 5.7 lakh in 2020, only to find later that it had an unpaid loan of Rs 4.1 lakh and the ownership wasn't transferred. The district consumer redressal commission-II ruled in his favour, ordering a refund with interest and Rs 1 lakh compensation.
He filed an EA in 2021, but over three years later, the matter is still unresolved. He's left with a car he can't sell or use legally.
Buyer waits 5 yrs for compliance
In 2019, Vardharaju R, a resident of Saidabad, received the wrong sofa, a smaller blue version instead of the white XL he ordered. The district consumer redressal commission-II ruled in his favour and ordered the seller to replace it and pay Rs 50,000 in compensation. When the firm didn't comply, he filed an EA in 2020. Five years on, the sofa hasn't been replaced and the compensation hasn't arrived.