How to file a complaint in Consumer Fourm?

Manner in which complaint shall be made under Section 35 of Consumer Protection Act, 2019:

(1) A complaint in relation to any goods sold or delivered or agreed to be sold or delivered or any service provided or agreed to be provided may be filed with a District Commission by –

(a) the consumer to whom such goods are sold or delivered or agreed to be sold or delivered or such service provided or agreed to be provided;

(b) any organisation consumer association whether the consumer to whom the goods sold or delivered or agreed to be sold or delivered or service provided or agreed to be provided is a member of such association or not;

(c) one or more consumers, where there are numerous consumers having the same interest, with the permission of the District Commission on behalf of, or for the benefit of, all consumers so interested; or

(d) the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, either in its individual capacity or as a representative of interests of the consumers in general.

(2) Every complaint filed under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied with such amount of fee and payable in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) On receipt of a complaint made under sub-section (1), the District Commission may, by order, allow the complaint to be proceeded with or rejected.

Provided that a complaint shall not be rejected under this sub-section unless an opportunity of being heard has been given to the complainant.

Provided further that the admissability of the complaint shall ordinarily be decided within twenty-one days from the date on which the complaint was received.

(4) Where a complaint is allowed to be proceeded with under sub-section (3), the District Commission may proceed with the complaint in the manner provided under this Act.

Pecuniary Jurisdiction of Consumer Commissions:

On December 30, 2021, the Central Government notified Consumer Protection (Jurisdiction of the District Commission, the State Commission and the National Commission) Rules, 2021 in order to revise the pecuniary jurisdiction of District Commission, the State Commission and the National Commission.

• Jurisdiction of District Commission: The District Commission shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services paid as consideration does not exceed fifty lakh rupees.
• Jurisdiction of State Commission: The State Commission shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services paid as consideration exceeds fifty lakh but does not exceed two crore rupees.
• Jurisdiction of National Commission: The National Commission shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services paid as consideration, exceeds two crore rupees.

Modes of filing consumer cases:

a) Consumers can file cases physically in the respective commission by submitting complaint affidavit.

b) Government has recently introduced an alternative option to file cases online through portal https://edaakhil.nic.in/. Consumers may visit the portal for more information.