In Brief
Subhechha Welfare Society, a registered consumer association, filed complaints before the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission on behalf of its members regarding an alleged unfair practice by Earth Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. The NCDRC dismissed the complaints on grounds of maintainability, holding that the association could not represent multiple consumers in a single complaint. The Supreme Court set aside this order, holding that the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 expressly permits registered associations to file complaints on behalf of members with similar grievances. Requiring separate complaints would defeat the purpose of consumer associations and cause unnecessary multiplicity. The case was remitted for decision on merits."
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