Consumer Court India: Status, Cause List, & How to File

In India, consumers are protected and given compensation against the unfair practices of a trader or service provider under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (‘Act’). Consumer courts are established under this Act to resolve disputes between consumers and traders or service providers.

This article covers all about consumer courts in India, including their types, composition, functions, consumer case status check, process for filing consumer cases and more.

What is Consumer Court​?

Consumer courts are established under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, was initially passed by the Indian parliament and came into force in December 1986. However, it was replaced by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. 

Consumer courts protect the interests of the consumers and deal with consumer disputes, conflicts, and grievances. They are a forum where a consumer may file a case against a seller, trader, or service provider if he/she feels cheated or exploited. The point of having a separate forum for consumer disputes is to ensure that such disputes are speedily resolved and less expensive.

Types of Consumer Courts

The Act provides for the formation of three tiers of consumer courts, which are as follows:

1. District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC):

The DCDRC or District Commission operates at a district level and takes on any consumer dispute where the value of the goods or services paid by the consumer does not exceed Rs.50 lakh.

2. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC):

The SCDRC or State Commission operates at the state level. It takes on any consumer dispute where the claim for compensation exceeds the amount of Rs.50 lakh but does not exceed Rs.2 crore and appeals against the District Commission orders.

3. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC):

The NCDRC or National Commission, is the apex court and takes on any consumer dispute where the claim for compensation exceeds Rs.2 crore and appeals against the State Commission orders.

Jurisdiction of Consumer Courts in India

The jurisdictions of the courts are based on the hierarchy of the courts.

1. Pecuniary Jurisdiction:

Pecuniary jurisdiction means the court’s power to take up and decide cases based on the value of the goods purchased or the value paid for the services by a consumer. The pecuniary jurisdiction of the consumer courts are:

• The District Commission has jurisdiction to take up cases where the value of goods or services paid is up to Rs.50 lakh.
• The State Commission has jurisdiction to take up cases where the claim exceeds Rs.50 lakh but does not exceed Rs.2 crore.
• The National Commission has jurisdiction to take up cases where the claim exceeds Rs.2 crore.

2. Territorial Jurisdiction:

Territorial jurisdiction means the court’s power to take up cases based on the local limits it covers. A complaint may be filed in the court that is within those local limits where:

• The opposite party usually resides or works.
• Place where the cause of action arises. Cause of action means the defect in goods purchased or deficiency in services or unfair trade practices exercised by the opposite party giving rise to a legal claim against them. It is the reason for filing the consumer case.
• The complainant resides or works.

3. Appellate Jurisdiction:

• If a consumer is not satisfied with the decision made by the District Commission, they can file an appeal to the state commission.
• If the consumer is not satisfied with the State Commission decision or order, he/she can appeal to the National Commission.
• If a consumer is not satisfied with the National Commission’s decision, he/she can appeal to the Supreme Court.

Composition of Consumer Courts in India

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, provides the composition of each of the courts.

1. District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission:

Each District Commission consists of:

• a person who is, or has been, or is qualified to be a District Judge, who shall be its President.
• two other members, who shall be persons of ability, integrity and standing, and have adequate knowledge or experience of, or have shown capacity in dealing with, problems relating to economics, law, commerce, accountancy, industry, public affairs or administration, one of whom shall be a woman.

2. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission:

Each State Commission shall consist of:

• a person who is or has been a Judge of a High Court, appointed by the State Government, who shall be its President.
• four other members, who shall be persons of ability, integrity and standing and have adequate knowledge or experience of, or have shown capacity in dealing with problems relating to economics, law, commerce, accountancy, industry, public affairs or administration, one of whom shall be a woman.

3. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission:

The National Commission shall consist of:

• a person who is or has been a Judge of the Supreme Court, to be appointed by the Central Government, who shall be its President.
• four other members, who shall be persons of ability, integrity and standing and have adequate knowledge or experience of, or have shown capacity in dealing with, problems relating to economics, law, commerce, accountancy, industry, public affairs or administration, one of whom shall be a woman.

Powers and Functions of Consumer Courts in India

Here are the powers and functions of consumer courts in India:

• The consumer courts can have the power to grant the following reliefs to the consumers after hearing a case filed before them to:
  • Refund the price paid while purchasing the good or availing the service to the consumer.
  • Pay the compensation for damages suffered or for any loss or injury suffered by the consumer due to the negligence of the opposite party.
  • Remove defects in the product after conducting tests to determine that there are material defects in the product.
  • Replace the goods with new goods of a similar description.
  • Impose a ban or withdraw the sale of hazardous goods from the market.
  • Remove the deficiency in the service availed by the consumer. 
  • Discontinue unfair or restrictive trade practices where there has been such a practice by the opposite party. 
  • Issue a corrective advertisement by the opposite party to neutralise the effect of the misleading advertisement and cease from issuing any misleading advertisements.
  • Provide any adequate costs to the consumer.
• Summon and enforce the attendance of the opposite party in the case, or witness and examine the witness on oath.
• Require the discovery and production of a document or any material object as evidence.
• Receive evidence on affidavits.
• Requisition of a report of the concerned test or analysis from the appropriate laboratory or from any other relevant source.
• Issue commissions for the examination of any witness or document.
• Examine any other matter as prescribed by the Central Government.

How to File a Case in Consumer Court?

Here are the steps to file a case/ complaint in consumer courts in India:

Step 1: Issue a notice to the service provider or trader regarding the problem, defect or deficiency in the services or goods and the intention to file a consumer complaint if they do not resolve it.

Step 2: If the trader or service provider does not resolve the issue of the consumer, the consumer must draft the complaint, including the name, description, address of the parties, cause of action, relief or remedy claimed and signature of the consumer.

Step 3: The relevant documents supporting the case must be attached to the drafted complaint and filed in the appropriate consumer commission with the pecuniary and territorial jurisdiction.

Step 4: The requisite court fee must be paid with the complaint to the appropriate consumer commission.

Step 5: The court will hear both parties and pass the orders.

Consumers can also file a complaint on the National Consumer Helpline website to resolve the issue directly with the opposite parties. The complaint will be registered and sent to the service provider or trader to solve the issue faced by the consumer and avoid going to the consumer courts.

How to Check Consumer Court Case Status?

Follow the steps below to check the consumer court case status:

Step 1: Visit the e-Jagriti website. 

Step 2: Click on the ‘Case History/ Status’ option at the top right of the homepage.

Step 3: Enter the case number and captcha code and click ‘Submit’.

Step 4: The case details, along with the case status, will be displayed on screen.

Consumer Court Cause List

Follow the steps below to find the cause list (list of cases to be heard by a particular commission on a specific day) of any consumer court in India:

Step 1: Visit the e-Jagriti website. 

Step 2: Click on the ‘Causelist’ option available on the top right-hand side of the homepage.

Step 3: Select the date of hearing, commission, cause list for, court number and click ‘Get Causelist’.

Step 4: The PDF will open, containing the cases listed for the date and the specific consumer commission.

State-Wise Consumer Court Website 

The table below provides the website links of the various consumer courts, i.e., State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions in India:

Consumer Court Helpline Number 

You can call the following IVRS number of the National Commission to resolve various queries relating to a consumer case filed in the National Commission - 01124300661. 

In India, different consumer courts (National, State and District Commissions) have their own office numbers.

The office numbers of the National Commission are - 011-24608801, 24608802

Click here to get the office numbers of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions to enquire regarding the cases filed in the respective State Commission.

If a consumer, i.e., a person who buys a product or avails a service, finds any defect in the product or deficiency in the service, he/she can file a complaint in the consumer courts to rectify the defect or deficiency. There are three consumer courts in India: the District Commission, the State Commission, and the National Commission. Each consumer court has its own jurisdiction, and the case must be filed in the appropriate court depending on the value of goods or services in dispute.