Karnataka state consumer forum may rope in police in exceptional recovery cases

Time of India

31-05-2025

Bengaluru: In a move aimed at strengthening the enforcement of consumer rights, Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (KSCDRC) plans to seek the police department's assistance in exceptional recovery cases — particularly where parties fail to comply with refund or compensation orders issued by the forum.
"While around 90% of respondents voluntarily comply with our orders, it's the remaining 10% that pose a challenge. These are often high-value or wilful defiance cases — especially involving real estate firms — that ignore legally binding directives. In such instances, we are planning to approach the police department to aid in enforcement," said KSCDRC chairman Shivashankare Gowda TG.
Unlike civil courts, consumer forums lack a dedicated bailiff system to ensure compliance.
This leaves them heavily reliant on the willingness of parties to obey orders, or else the way is to pursue contempt proceedings in civil courts — a process that is often lengthy and difficult for common citizens to navigate.
To address this gap, the commission is now exploring a formal coordination framework with police to help execute non-compliance orders, especially in cases where properties have been attached or arrest warrants are issued by the forum.
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Gowda noted that such police assistance would be sought sparingly and only in exceptional or chronic default situations. "We are not trying to criminalise civil disputes but ensure the authority of the consumer forum is not undermined," he added.
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Going digital
In a parallel push, KSCDRC is embracing digital tools to increase case-disposal rates and enhance transparency. The commission plans to launch a Telegram channel for real-time notifications of sittings and holidays, and a YouTube channel to live-stream consumer court proceedings.
"More and more people are getting cheated and losing money. But looking at the filing, it still remains low. We want people to come ahead and file complaints for better justice delivery. This (use of digital tools) move will also bring unprecedented transparency. Even a complainant can watch the proceedings from home," the chairman said.
The total cost to develop the infrastructure is estimated at Rs 52 crore.
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Pendency & pressure
Gowda acknowledged that pendency of cases remains a concern in some districts, though several forums have very few cases.
While Gadag and Bengaluru have heavy workloads, many other districts have low pendency — some even under 30 cases. He pointed out that case-disposal efficiency is being prioritised.
The chairman admitted there was a decline in the disposal rate over the past year. "There was a 40% dip in disposal, but the aim is to solve that problem first," he added. As of April 2025, Karnataka's consumer disputes redressal system had approximately 11,000 cases on record, with about 7,000 pending, including those in the state commission and Bengaluru Rural forums. Real estate and insurance disputes constitute the majority of these cases.