Pune: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Pune has been waiting for years to get a dedicated and adequately spacious building to conduct its proceedings smoothly. Despite continuous requests, the commission still operates in cramped conditions, surrounded by piles of case files.
A 3,020 square meter land parcel near Savitribai Phule Pune University had been allocated for the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, and the Circuit Bench of the State Commission.
The Maharashtra government approved ₹10.77 crore for construction, and an external blueprint had already been finalized. However, due to land disputes, authorities ultimately confirmed that this space could not be handed over to the commission, leading to the cancellation of the project.
Proposed Structure of the New Building
Had the initial plan been executed, the Consumer Commission's new building would have been an eight-story structure with:
Four floors dedicated to parking
The District Consumer Commission on the fifth floor
The Additional District Consumer Commission on the sixth floor
District Collector’s administrative offices on the seventh and eighth floors
New Land Allocated in Yerawada, but Concerns Persist
Following the setback at Ganeshkhind Road, a new plot has now been allocated in Yerwada for the Consumer Commission’s building. However, lawyers practicing at the commission have raised concerns that the new location is too far from the existing premises. They are demanding that the new office be situated closer to the current site for ease of accessibility.
Alternative Solution: Using Space in the Existing Administrative Building
Currently, the Consumer Commission operates from a new administrative building, which also houses the Registration and Stamps Department. This department is set to move to its own facility within six months, leaving a large area vacant. Many have suggested that this freed-up space should be allocated to the Consumer Commission instead of shifting to Yerawada.
If the commission is allowed to remain in the current building, it would streamline operations and provide adequate space for all officials, including the State Commission's Circuit Bench. Until 2015, the Consumer Commission operated from a private location in Bibwewadi. The uncertainty surrounding its permanent premises continues to be a pressing issue.