Q.State Commission

The State Commission is the second (middle) tier of the three-tier consumer disputes redressal system. Constituted by the State Government, it is headed by a (sitting or retired) High Court Judge, hears complaints above the District Forum's monetary limit, and acts as an appellate authority over the District Forums in the state; appeals against it lie to the National Commission. ## Meaning The State Commission (State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission) is the state-level body in the three-tier consumer-protection machinery (District Forum, State Commission, National Commission). It is established by each State Government. ## Composition and powers - Head: a person who is or has been a Judge of a High Court, along with other members (including a woman member). - Original jurisdiction: it entertains complaints where the value of the goods or services and the compensation claimed is above the District Forum limit and up to the higher prescribed limit (under the 1986 Act, above Rs. 20 lakh and up to Rs. 1 crore). - Appellate jurisdiction: it hears appeals against the orders passed by the District Forums within the state. - Reliefs: like the other agencies it can order removal of defects, replacement of goods, refund of price, payment of compensation, and the stopping of unfair trade practices. - Further appeal: a party aggrieved by a State Commission order may appeal to the National Commission. Thus the State Commission links the District Forum below it and the National Commission above it, which is what the AP Intermediate 2nd-year Commerce 2-mark question expects. (Under the later Consumer Protection Act, 2019 the monetary limits were revised, but the State Commission continues as the middle tier.) …