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Section 9: Objects of District Council

Consumer Protection Act • Official Statutory Text & Practice Guide

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Act 2019
Section 8 All 107 Sections of Consumer Protection Act Section 10

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 9

Section 9 regulates the operational procedure and periodicity of meetings of the District Consumer Protection Council. It mandates that the District Council must meet at least twice every year, ensuring that district administrative leadership regularly reviews local consumer grievances and market compliance.

  • Mandatory Bi-Annual Meeting Requirement: Mandates that the District Council shall meet as and when necessary, but not less than two meetings shall be held every year within the district.
  • Presiding Authority and Delegation: Meetings are presided over by the District Collector as Chairperson, or in their absence, by an officer specifically nominated by the Collector from the district administration.
  • Deliberative Procedure and Local Governance: The time, venue, and conduct of proceedings follow rules prescribed by the State Government, facilitating structured engagement with local civic bodies, trade unions, and consumer activists.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • State of Maharashtra v. Jalgaon Municipal Council (2003) 9 SCC 731: Affirmed that statutory local committees must adhere strictly to meeting frequency and procedural transparency to preserve democratic and administrative legitimacy.
  • D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal (1997) 1 SCC 416: Recognized that institutional executive committees at the district collectorate level bear affirmative duties to oversee regulatory compliance and public welfare.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

Counsel representing parties before the District Commission should examine the official gazette and collectorate records to ascertain whether District Council meetings are being convened. Resolutions passed during Section 9 meetings regarding localized defective services (e.g., regional power supply fluctuations or municipal water contamination) can be tendered as official public documents under Section 74 of the Indian Evidence Act to prove deficiency of service under Section 38.

Section 8 All 107 Sections of Consumer Protection Act Section 10