Consumer Court- a Quick Guide for Tricity

Last Updated on May 22, 2024 by Satish Mishra

This post was written in 2017 when the new Act of 2019 was not in place and now that the things have changes, so though of giving this post a revamp.

Only some part of it will remain obsolete and rest of them still holds the current law.

So no confusion regarding that.

With rapid consumption of goods and soaring consumerism in India, Consumer Courts are revered to be one of the most sought after places in cases of deficiency and disputes. To the benefits, most of these courts are consumer pro which means you will be heard first and given preference over the defaulters. As always definitely the outcome depends only on the merits of the case.

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Lets us know about the working of Consumer Courts in Brief:

Know your basic CONSUMER RIGHTS first-

1. RIGHT TO BE HEARD
2. RIGHT TO BE EDUCATED
3. RIGHT TO SEEK REDRESS
4. RIGHT TO SAFETY
5. RIGHT TO BE INFORMED
6. RIGHT TO CHOOSE

If you wish to read the bare act, you can read it here.

Also Read- Legal Notice Before Consumer Complaint

JURISDICTION OF CONSUMER COURTS IN INDIA

1-20 lakhs – District Consumer Forum (check here online)

Above 20 lakhs to  1 crore- State Commission (Mostly in State Capitals)

Above 1 crore- National Commission (New Delhi)

Also Read- Company Refusing to Pay Health Insurance? Remedy Is With Consumer Court

Few Important things to know:-

1.Limitation- within 2 years of purchase or cause of action whichever is earlier. In exceptional cases where there are sufficient reasons for delay, it is upto court to condone the delay and admit complaint.

2.Court Fees- Either Indian Postal order or DD in the favour of President of consumer forum.

3.Detailed Affidavit- Detailed affidavit is required along with the petition duly attested by Oath commissioner or Notary.

4.Copies/Sets- 3 sets for the court plus copies for each opposite party along with the complaint.

5.Misleading Ads- There is also a government portal where you could easily register your complaint and get quick resolutions against misleading advertisements. Here is the link.

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STAGES IN CONSUMER COURT TRIAL

0- Filing  Date. Case gets listed for one day after. File case under u/s 12, 15 and 17

1 First Date – Admission Hearing. Notices to be issued

2 Fixed for appearance of Respondents

3 Fixed for Reply /Evidence

4 Fixed for Rejoinder/Replication optional

5 Arguments Written (optional)

6 Arguments Oral

7 Reserve for orders

8 If the compliance is not done within 30 days then you can file Execution application or Contempt Petition u/s 25 and 27. Court will further order heavy costs and penalty for not complying with the orders. There can be numerous adjournments in any of the stages as agreed to the court but the nature of stages remains the same.

Also Read- Complaint Against Immigration Company of Fraud and Cheating

Court Fee Calculation- This has become obsolete now. Please ignore.

Sl. No.	Total Value of goods or services and the compensation claimed	Amount of fee payable
	District Forum
(1)	Upto one lakh rupees – For complainants who are under the Below Poverty Line holding Antyodaya Anna Yojana Cards	Nil
(2)	Upto one lakh rupees – For complainants other than Antyodaya Anna Yojana card holders.	Rs.100
(3)	Above one lakh and upto five lakh rupees	Rs.200
(4)	Above five lakh and upto ten lakh rupees	Rs.400
(5)	Above ten lakh and upto twenty lakh rupees	Rs.500
	State Commission
(6)	Above twenty lakh and upto fifty lakh rupees	Rs.2000
(7)	Above fifty lakh and upto one crore rupees	Rs.4000
	National Commission
(8)	Above one crore rupees	Rs.5000

APPLICATIONS FILED IN THE CONSUMER COURT

1.Consumer Application (CC)

2.Miscellaneous Application (MA)

3.Transfer Application (TA)

4.Execution Application (EA)

5.Contempt Petition (CP)

This post is covers what kind of cases we can file in consumer courts at Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali.

1 Consumer Brands and FMCG– Be it shoes, T-shirts, apparels, bags, watches, food articles, Electronic brands , jewellery stores and many more….

2 Real Estate– RERA has shifted the gears of Real Estate  In India. Only the pending issues are heard at the moment in consumer courts or state commission. This category also covers services rendered by Architectural companies.

3 Insurance companies– Where insurance company is not fulfilling the terms of policy. Be it health insurance or life insurance plan. Consumers are up against the ante towards insurance companies which can clearly seen in the consumer courts of throughout India.

4 Travel Industry– Travel startups are booming which has given to rise of these tour planners and tour operators. They can let you travel through out India at cheap costs and cheap rooms only to find out that what they have promised is not true. Stinky rooms , false promises and inadequate services force tourists to move to consumer courts.

5 Private Companies/ Shop owners- Private players those who are providing consumer oriented services can also be dealt with consumer law. All you need is receipt of services that have been provided to you and evidence where they are found deficient. Even your private kiryanawala or Big Bazaar store is covered under consumer protection act.

6 Telecom Companies– Jio, Airtel, Vodafone, Idea and many other are taking customers in full swing everyday. Further 4g has revolutionized the Indian Telecom space. Mobile Internet, telecalling, video calling and phone makers likeNokia, Apple , Samsung are dealt sternly by courts in case of deficiency in services.

7 Finance Companies-  Banks , Financers , Funders who are dealing in any kind of any money lending services are covered under the ambit of consumer law. Be it Muthoot group. If they are found not upto mark in their commitments to consumers, case can be filed against them.

8 Immigration Agents– You will be glad to know that they are also covered under this category. If you have been lately fraud by Immigration agents on the pretext of being sent abroad, then consumer courts may have remedy have you.

9 Medical Industry– Government Institutions , private nursing hospitals and doctors not able to give you upto mark services are liable to give you assured standard of services without any deficiency.

10 Cooperative Societies/ Associations– Registered units giving you services in any form are also held accountable under consumer protection law but you must exhaust alternate remedies if prior exist so.

NOTE- Even the government organizations are also covered under Consumer Protection rendering vital services to its citizens.

Now the consumer complaints are mandatorily to be filed online using E-Daakhil. Though the step is laudable but it seems a bit technical in my personal view. Since when I was creating my consumer lawyer account, the email OTP never came and then I had to file the case using my friend’s account.

So you cannot be certain about the website functioning or not, just like confonet.

But at the moment all State Consumer Commissions filing are being done using E-daakhil only.

Jurisdiction of Consumer Court Complaint as on May, 2024

1. NCDRC – Higher than Rs. Two Crore .
2. SCDRC – Higher than Rs. 50 Lakhs and upto Rs Two Crore .
3. DCDRC – Upto Rs. 50 Lakhs .

You might even access the website of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution for your grievances.

You might even Call to register your grievance on 1800114000 or 1915

(All Days Except National Holidays (08:00 AM To 08:00 PM))

Few helpful Websites-

1 You can see your case in the causelist. http://confonet.nic.in/

2 You can download the orders by putting your case number.