Judgment

Srikrishna, J.—Leave granted.

2. What is the content of the statutory consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court postulated under Section 16(1)(a) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, is the core issue subjected to debate before us in these two appeals.

3. The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Act’) was brought into force on 24.12.1986. It is an Act “to provide for better protection of the interests of consumers and for that purpose to make provision for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumers’ disputes and for matters connected therewith”. The Act established fora at district level, state level and national level and laid down the procedure of appointing the members of the fora and their respective Chairmen. The dispute pertains to the statutory procedure contemplated for appointments of the Chairman of the State Commission-the forum at the State level.

4. Section 16(1) provides for the composition of the State Commission including the appointment of the President and members of the State Commission. As originally enacted, Section 16 read as under :

“16. Composition of the State Commi