Consumer Protection
Redressal agencies and reliefs
Decide where a complaint should be filed and what relief to ask for.
The 2019 Act sets up three tiers of commissions. Where a complaint goes depends on the value of the goods or services paid for:
| Commission | Value | Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| District | up to ₹50 lakh | to the State Commission within 45 days |
| State | above ₹50 lakh, up to ₹2 crore | to the National Commission within 30 days |
| National | above ₹2 crore | to the Supreme Court within 30 days |
Example: a defective machine worth ₹1.5 crore: more than ₹50 lakh but not more than ₹2 crore, so the complaint goes to the State Commission.
The District Commission may, with the consent of both parties, refer a dispute to mediation.
Reliefs a commission can order:
- remove the defect, or replace the product;
- refund the price;
- pay compensation for loss or injury, and punitive damages in serious cases;
- stop an unfair or restrictive trade practice;
- withdraw hazardous goods from sale, and stop making them;
- issue corrective advertising to undo the effect of a misleading one.
If no appeal is made in time, the commission's order is final.
Match the value to the commission.
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