Quasi-judicial formal petition filed under Section 35, 47, or 58 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 via the central e-Daakhil digital portal before the District, State, or National Consumer Commission against corporations, builders, e-commerce sellers, banks, or hospitals for deficiency in service or unfair trade practice
Under Section 69 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a consumer complaint MUST be filed within strictly 2 years from the date on which the cause of action arose (e.g., date of product failure, date of insurance claim rejection, or promised delivery date). Complaints filed beyond 2 years will be dismissed unless sufficient cause for delay is established through a formal Condonation of Delay Application.
💡 A Consumer Court Complaint is a formal legal petition filed under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 before a Consumer Commission seeking replacement of defective goods, refund of money, damages for financial loss, and compensation for mental agony and harassment. Through the central 'e-Daakhil' portal, any consumer in India can file, track, pay fees, and attend virtual hearings from home without hiring an advocate.
Pecuniary hierarchy under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (updated rules).
| Commission Level | Pecuniary Jurisdiction | Appellate Authority | Court Fee Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| District Commission (DCDRC) | Value of goods/services paid up to ₹50 Lakhs | First appeal lies to State Commission within 45 days | ₹0 (up to ₹5L); ₹500 (₹5L–₹10L); ₹1,000–₹2,000 (up to ₹50L) |
| State Commission (SCDRC) | Value of goods/services paid ₹50 Lakhs to ₹2 Crores | First appeal lies to National Commission (NCDRC) within 30 days | ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 payable online via Bharatkosh |
| National Commission (NCDRC) | Value of goods/services paid exceeding ₹2 Crores | First appeal lies directly to Supreme Court of India within 30 days | ₹7,500 payable online through e-Daakhil |
| Consumer Mediation Cell | Voluntary consensual settlement cell attached to each commission | No appeal lies against a consensual mediated settlement | Zero court fees; 100% refund of court fee if mediated |
E-Daakhil filing is completed online within 1 hour; commissions are mandated to decide admissibility within 21 days and complete hearings within 3 to 6 months.
Zero court fees for claims up to ₹5 Lakhs; nominal fees for higher claims (₹500 for ₹5L–₹10L, ₹1,000 for ₹10L–₹20L, ₹2,000 for ₹20L–₹50L) payable online via Bharatkosh.
Any individual consumer, registered consumer voluntary association, central or state government, or legal heir of a deceased consumer who bought goods or hired services for personal consideration (not for commercial resale).
Consumers facing deficiency of service, supply of defective goods, misleading advertisements, overcharging beyond MRP, builder non-delivery of apartments, rejected insurance claims, medical negligence, or refusal of refunds by airlines, hotels, or e-commerce platforms.
Send a formal demand letter or legal notice via email or registered post to the opposite party giving them 15 to 30 days to rectify the deficiency or refund the money.
Visit edaakhil.nic.in, click on 'Register', and create an individual consumer account using your mobile number, email ID, and Aadhaar-based OTP verification.
Select the appropriate forum based on total claim amount (Goods cost + Compensation): District Commission (up to ₹50 Lakhs), State Commission (₹50 Lakhs to ₹2 Crores), or National Commission (>₹2 Crores). You can file in the district where you reside or where the opposite party operates.
Draft the complaint containing: Memo of Parties, Chronological Factual History, Point of Deficiency, Reliefs Claimed (refund, interest, mental agony compensation, litigation costs), and sign the Verification Affidavit.
Upload the indexed complaint petition and supporting invoices in PDF format. Pay the prescribed court fee online via the integrated Bharatkosh payment gateway.
The Consumer Commission reviews admissibility within 21 days under Section 36(2). Upon admission, the commission issues notice to the respondent, directing them to file their written reply within 30 to 45 days.
If the defaulting company refuses to obey the consumer commission's judgment, initiate execution proceedings.
If the opposite party fails to comply within 30 days of the order, file an Execution Application before the same Commission under Section 71 (Recovery of Money) or Section 72 (Penalties).
Under Section 71, the Commission issues a Recovery Certificate (RC) to the District Collector to recover the awarded amount as arrears of land revenue by attaching the company's bank accounts or property.
Under Section 72, non-compliance is punishable with imprisonment from 1 month up to 3 years, or with a fine from ₹25,000 up to ₹1,00,000, or both. The commission can issue bailable or non-bailable arrest warrants against company directors.
Track proceedings and download daily order sheets directly from CONFONET and e-Daakhil.
Visit the official Consumer Forum Network portal at confonet.nic.in or log into your e-Daakhil account.
Select State, District Commission, Year, and enter the assigned Case Number (e.g., CC/123/2026).
Click on 'Daily Orders / Proceedings' to view judge notes, next hearing dates, and witness directions.
Click on 'Judgment / Final Order' to download the digitally signed final verdict in PDF format.
Practical solutions for common hurdles during online consumer litigation.
| Issue / Challenge | Portal / Procedural Cause | Actionable Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| Opposite party deliberately evades physical commission notice | Proof of service under Order V CPC / Section 65 CPA | File an application for substituted service by email, WhatsApp, or local newspaper publication; consumer courts readily permit digital service. |
| Opposite party fails to file written statement within 45 days | Supreme Court Constitution Bench ruling in New India Assurance | The statutory 45-day deadline (30 days + 15 days extension) is strictly mandatory; request the Commission to forfeit the respondent's right to file a defense and proceed ex-parte. |
| Payment failed on Bharatkosh but money deducted | Bharatkosh Transaction Reference / Non-Tax Receipt | Check Bharatkosh 'Track Transaction'; if pending, system reconciles within 24 hours, or upload the bank debit statement to the e-Daakhil helpdesk. |
Yes. The Consumer Protection Act is designed specifically for ordinary citizens. You can file your complaint in person (Party-in-Person) via e-Daakhil and argue your own case before the bench without paying any lawyer fees.
Under Section 34(2)(d) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a consumer can file the complaint in the District Commission within whose jurisdiction the complainant resides or personally works for gain, eliminating the old requirement of traveling to the company's head office.
Under Rule 7 of the Consumer Protection (Consumer Commission Procedure) Regulations, 2020, there is ZERO (₹0) court fee for filing complaints where the value of goods or services paid is up to ₹5 Lakhs.
Yes. Under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, foreign e-commerce entities operating in India must appoint a resident grievance officer and nodal contact person, and are fully amenable to the jurisdiction of Indian Consumer Commissions.
Comprehensive statute establishing modern consumer rights, Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), and e-filing.
National Informatics Centre (NIC) official electronic filing and tracking system for consumer commissions.
Formal statutory pre-litigation demand letter served through an advocate under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, Section 80 of the Civil Procedure Code, or Transfer of Property Act, establishing a 15–60 day cure period before filing a lawsuit
Foundational criminal proceeding document registered under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure / Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for cognizable offenses, required for insurance theft claims and judicial defense
Statutory legal instrument executed under Section 30 of the Advocates Act, 1961 and Order III Rule 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, authorizing an advocate to plead, act, compromise, and represent a client before any Indian Court, Tribunal, High Court, or the Supreme Court
Mandatory statutory compliance certificate issued under Section 5 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA) to real estate developers, certifying that a residential or commercial project is legally approved, financial escrow accounts are established, and possession deadlines are legally enforceable
Guide to creating affidavits for various purposes
Official statutory professional license and Certificate of Enrolment (Sanad) issued under Section 22 of the Advocates Act, 1961 by the State Bar Council, followed by the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) Certificate of Practice (COP), legally entitling a law graduate to practice the profession of law and represent clients before all Indian courts and tribunals
Statutory citizen request and appellate petition filed under Section 6(1) and Section 19(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 to access government records, inspect public works, uncover tender allocations, and challenge unlawful denials before the First Appellate Authority (FAA)
Official police acknowledgment report registered under Section 155 CrPC / Section 174 BNSS or State Lost Article Portals, mandatory for issuing duplicate SIM cards, lost Aadhaar/PAN cards, lost Indian Passports, and lost Driving Licences
Governed by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (CPA 2019) and Consumer Protection (Consumer Commission Procedure) Regulations, 2020.
e-Daakhil - National Consumer Commission Online Portal →