Consumer court

Last updated September 20, 2024

Consumer court is a special purpose court in India. It primarily deals with consumer-related disputes, conflicts, and grievances. The court holds hearings to adjudicate these disputes.

When consumers file a case, the court primarily looks to see if they can prove the exploitation through evidence such as bills or purchase memos. In cases where no such evidence is presented, courts rarely rule in favor of the plaintiff. The court mostly decides its verdict based on the violations of consumer rights (if any). The point of having a separate forum for consumer disputes is to ensure that such disputes are speedily resolved and make it less expensive.

Rights provided by consumer courts

The rights provided by the court are listed below:^[1]

Right to Safety: The right to be protected from all types of hazardous goods and services.
Right to Information: The right to be fully informed about the performance and quality of all goods and services.
Right to Choose: The right to freely choose goods and services.
Right to be Heard: The right to be heard in all decision-making processes related to consumer interest.
Right to Seek Redressal: The right to seek compensation, whenever consumer rights have been infringed.
Right to Consumer Education: The right to complete consumer education.
There are two more Rights specified but they don't come as part of the 6 main Rights mentioned above.

List of consumer courts

National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC): A court that operates nationally and deals with cases where claimed compensation exceeds Ten crores (₹100 million). The National Commission is the apex body of Consumer Courts; it is also the highest appellate court in the hierarchy. The NCDRC is the highest judiciary of the consumer court, the consumer Supreme Court of India.
State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC): A court that works at the state level in cases where compensation claimed is between one crore (₹10 million) and Ten crores . The State Commission has appellate jurisdiction over the District Forum.
District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCDRF): A court that works at the district level in cases where the claimed compensation is below one crore.^[2]

Process to file a complaint

To file a complaint, a consumer obtains a copy of the Consumer Protection Act. The format for filing a complaint is simple, with guidelines provided for reference. It is advisable to describe the facts and support the claim with comprehensive documentation.

The consumer must attach photocopied documents (evidence and references) in the complaint file.
A signed Vakalatnama should be attached with the documents. This authorises a lawyer to represent the case in the Consumer Court.

History

The consumer movement a social force originated in the 1960s with the mission of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices. Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of food and edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement. In 1986 the movement led the Indian government to enact the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 (COPRA).

Objectives

The main function of the consumer court is to offer redress to consumers and to maintain seller's orientation toward fairly treating the consumer and respecting their rights. Approaching a consumer court is cheap as plaintiffs can represent themselves without a lawyer and are only required to pay a nominal fee of 100 Indian rupees.^[3]

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Andhra Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is an autonomous, statutory and constitutional institution formed as a quasi judicial body for the state of Andhra Pradesh under Section 24-B of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to protect the rights of consumers. It is a system of alternate dispute resolution between conflicting parties during the process of trade. The president of the Andhra Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is appointed by the Andhra Pradesh Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of state Andhra Pradesh High Court.

The West Bengal State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is an autonomous, statutory and constitutional institution formed as a quasi-judicial body in West Bengal under Section 24-B of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to protect the rights of consumers. It is a system of alternate dispute resolution between conflicting parties during the process of trade. The president of the States Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is appointed by the state government in consultation with the Chief Justice of state high court.

The Uttar Pradesh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is an autonomous, statutory and constitutional institution formed as a quasi-judicial body in Uttar Pradesh under Section 24-B of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to protect the rights of consumers. It is a system of alternate dispute resolution between conflicting parties during the process of trade. The president of the States Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is appointed by the state government in consultation with the Chief Justice of state high court.

The Telangana State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is an autonomous, statutory and constitutional institution formed as a quasi-judicial body in Telangana under Section 24-B of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to protect the rights of consumers. It is a system of alternate dispute resolution between conflicting parties during the process of trade. The president of the States Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is appointed by the state government in consultation with the Chief Justice of state high court.

Tamil Nadu State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is an autonomous, statutory and constitutional institution formed as a quasi judicial body in Tamil Nadu under Section 24-B of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to protect the rights of consumers. It is a system of alternate dispute resolution between conflicting parties during the process of trade. The president of the States Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is appointed by the state government in consultation with the Chief Justice of state high court.

The Punjab State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is an autonomous, statutory and constitutional institution formed as a quasi-judicial body in Punjab under Section 24-B of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to protect the rights of consumers. It is a system of alternate dispute resolution between conflicting parties during the process of trade. The president of the States Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is appointed by the state government in consultation with the Chief Justice of state high court.

Kerala State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is an autonomous, statutory and constitutional institution formed as a quasi judicial body in Kerala under Section 24-B of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to protect the rights of consumers. It is a system of alternate dispute resolution between conflicting parties during the process of trade. The president of the States Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is appointed by the state government in consultation with the Chief Justice of state high court.

Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is an autonomous, statutory and constitutional institution formed as a quasi-judicial body in Karnataka under Section 24-B of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to protect the rights of consumers. It is a system of alternate dispute resolution between conflicting parties during the process of trade. The president of the States Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is appointed by the state government in consultation with the Chief Justice of state high court.

E-Daakhil is an online portal launched by the Indian The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) in September 2020 for facilitation of offline and online complaints relating to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 by consumers. The portal is available across all State Consumer Redressal Commissions.

Chhattisgarh State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is an autonomous, statutory and constitutional institution formed as a quasi judicial body in Chhattisgarh under Section 24-B of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to protect the rights of consumers. It is a system of alternate dispute resolution between conflicting parties during the process of trade. The president of the States Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is appointed by the state government in consultation with the Chief Justice of state high court.

References

↑ "World Consumer Rights Day: Six consumer rights every Indian must know!". 15 March 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
↑ "DCDRF, Raigad". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
↑ "CONSUMER PROTECTION AND NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION". NCDRC. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2012.

External links

Consumer Court Judgments.

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[1] "World Consumer Rights Day: Six consumer rights every Indian must know!". 15 March 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2020.

[DCDRF,_Raigad-2] "DCDRF, Raigad". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2013.

[NCDRC_Website-3] "CONSUMER PROTECTION AND NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION". NCDRC. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 18 December 2012.

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