Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) has written to Registrars and Presidents of National, State, and District Commissions with regard to speedy redressal of consumer complaints. The Department has requested not to grant an adjournment for more than one month to ensure adhering to the timelines provided under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. It said, in case of any delay in resolving the complaints beyond 2 months due to adjournment requests, the Commission may consider imposing costs on parties.<br />'' <br />'' In his letter, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs Rohit Kumar Singh has emphasized inexpensive, hassle-free, and speedy justice to the consumers. The letter states that frequent and long adjournments not only denies a consumer his right to be heard and seek redressal but also take away the spirit of enactment. Therefore, Consumer Commissions are requested to ensure that in no circumstance adjournment for a long period is provided. Further, in case of more than two requests of adjournment by either parties, Consumer Commissions may, as a measure of deterrence, impose costs on parties.<br />'' <br />''The Secretary, DoCA has also written to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories and all consumer commissions laying stress on encouraging consumers to file their complaints through e-daakhil portal. The Department is also organizing a National Workshop on 31st of this month with President and members of National, State, and District commissions, as well as the Secretary-in-charge of Consumer Affairs in States and Union Territories to discuss and deliberate on making the dispute redressal mechanism more effective.