Consumer courts to get a digital flavour

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₹2 crore (in compensation), while SCDRCs handles cases between ₹50 lakh and ₹2 crore. District consumer dispute redressal commissions (DCDRC) have jurisdiction over cases that entail up to ₹50 lakh in compensation.

Manish K. Shubhay, partner, The Precept Law Offices, and a Supreme Court lawyer, welcomed the plan.

“The e-courts system ensures 24x7 access to vital legal information, including case status, cause lists and court orders, promoting efficiency and convenience. The transition to an e-courts system would make the justice delivery system in consumer jurisdiction more accessible, cost-effective and transparent." “It’s a pathbreaking move by the government, ensuring further decentralization of the complaint filing system for consumers.

Convenience and simplicity ensure that every aggrieved consumer can reach the justice system sitting at home," said Ashim Sanyal, chief executive officer of Consumer VOICE. “However, we need to be cautious and prepared for more numbers overwhelming the system," Sanyal added.

CCPA also plans to deploy technical service providers at court premises to ensure that those who may not be technologically adept can still avail themselves of the e-court services, promoting inclusivity in the consumer dispute resolution framework. Teaching tutorials are also getting prepared for those who don’t want to file their complaints through advocates.