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Punjab Govt Proposes Bill to Abolish Consumer Courts, Transfer Powers to District Courts
Punjab govt’s new bill seeks to dissolve consumer courts in 17 districts, transferring powers to District & Sessions Courts for quicker complaint redressal. Legal experts may raise concerns.
ND
by News Desk
2025-05-28
Punjab Govt Proposes Bill to Abolish Consumer Courts, Transfer Powers to District Courts

The Punjab government has prepared a new amendment bill aimed at abolishing consumer courts in 17 districts across the province, consolidating their powers under the District and Sessions Courts. The Punjab Consumer Protection (Amendment) Bill has been formally submitted to the Punjab Assembly for consideration.

According to the bill, consumers will now have the option to submit complaints directly to the Deputy Commissioner or any other government-appointed officer. The responsibilities and powers previously held by consumer courts will be transferred to District Judges or Additional District Judges, who will now perform the functions of consumer court judges within the district courts.

Furthermore, the bill provides the option to establish one or more consumer courts in districts after consultation with the Lahore High Court. The proposed amendment also empowers the concerned officers to impose fines of up to Rs 100,000 on the accused party upon receiving a complaint from a consumer.

The bill is scheduled to be reviewed by the relevant standing committee, which is expected to submit its report within two months. While the government claims that the amendment aims to provide consumers with a more comprehensive and efficient system for complaint resolution, legal experts and civic groups have indicated that they may have reservations regarding the potential impacts of abolishing consumer courts at the district level.

As the bill progresses through the legislative process, stakeholders will closely watch for any concerns about access to justice and the effectiveness of the proposed changes in consumer protection.

 
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PUNJAB

ConsumerRights

ConsumerProtection

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