Karnataka ranks 4th in consumer justice, Bengaluru beats peers

BENGALURU: Karnataka has been ranked fourth among 19 large and mid-sized states in the Consumer Justice Report 2026 released Wednesday, even as staffing gaps and falling disposal rates raise concerns about its redressal system.

The report, by the India Justice Report, places Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan ahead. It assesses states on budgets, infrastructure, human resources, workload and gender diversity.

On the positive side, consumer commissions in Karnataka cleared 109% of cases on average during 2020-24, indicating backlog reduction. The state also recorded the highest gender diversity, with women making up 50% of members and 43% of staff in 2024.

However, key gaps persist. As of 2025, the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission had no president, and 88% of member posts were vacant.

District commissions faced 42% shortfall in presidents. Karnataka fares relatively well on long-pending cases, with 28% pending beyond three years.

At the state level, 1 in 4 cases is still pending.