To dispose of pending consumer-related cases in courts smoothly and effectively, the Centre has introduced new model code of rules for appointment of judges at various positions in consumer courts. As per the new model rules, serving district judge will be president of the district consumer forum, while a sitting high court judge will be president of the state consumer commission. On account of absence of rules for the appointment of judges, as many as 400 vacancies at various positions are there in consumer forums. And this is cited as the reason why more than 5 lakh cases are presently pending in the country's consumer courts. The new rules stipulate that any consumer forum would not have more than 500 cases pending at a given time and that necessary steps should be taken to minimize the pendency. In case average consumer case filing goes above 1500 in a year in a district consumer forum, the state government should establish an additional district court in that district, states the new model rules of appointment. Also the new model rules state that if positions in consumer courts are likely to be vacant because of retirements, they should be filled up immediately and that this process should be completed in six months. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court declined to extend the term of three members in the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) until all seven vacancies are freshly filled up. Narrowing down of the criteria of short-listing of applicants by the government is cited as the reason behind inordinate delay in filling up the vacancies at the top consumer body.