Sun Feb 02 13:06:06 UTC 2025: ## Kerala High Court Upholds State Consumer Commission’s Power to Stay Orders
**KOCHI, February 2, 2025** – The Kerala High Court ruled today that the State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission possesses the inherent authority to stay orders issued by district commissions. This power, however, is contingent upon the appellant duly filing an appeal and depositing the legally mandated amount as per the Consumer Protection Act.
Justice C.S. Dias delivered the judgment while addressing a petition filed by a dentist who challenged an arrest warrant issued by the Kottayam Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. The warrant stemmed from a consumer’s petition to enforce a ₹5 lakh compensation order, despite the dentist’s appeal to the State Commission. The dentist argued that the Act lacked provisions for staying execution pending appeal.
Citing a Supreme Court precedent, the High Court determined that the State Commission retains inherent power to stay orders, even without explicit statutory provision, provided the appeal is properly filed with the required deposit. The court permitted the dentist to file a stay petition and directed the State Consumer Commission to determine the applicable deposit amount under either the old or new Act. Execution of the arrest warrant was deferred for 60 days.
First Piper 