Asked by a reader in Bengaluru

Where and how do I file a consumer complaint, and what does it cost?

Answered by Advocate Sharan Jain··Consumer Protection Law

Short answer

Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, you file by the value of the consideration paid: up to Rs 50 lakh before the District Commission, Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore before the State Commission, above that the National Commission. Limitation is two years, and filing is possible online on e-Daakhil.

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 replaced the 1986 Act and changed several things people still get wrong, including how the forum is chosen.

Which commission

Jurisdiction is decided by the value of the consideration paid, not by the compensation claimed. That is the change from the old Act.

  • Up to Rs 50 lakh: District Commission
  • Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore: State Commission
  • Above Rs 2 crore: National Commission

Where you can file

Where you ordinarily reside or work for gain, or where the opposite party resides or carries on business, or where the cause of action arose. The right to file where the consumer lives is one of the most useful features of the Act.

Limitation

Two years from the date the cause of action arose. Delay can be condoned for sufficient cause recorded in writing, but do not rely on it.

Filing online

Complaints can be filed through the e-Daakhil portal, and you may appear in person without a lawyer. For a straightforward matter with clean documents, many people do exactly that.

What to have ready
Invoice and proof of payment, the warranty or service contract, every email and message with the seller, photographs of the defect, and a short chronology. A complaint with a clear timeline and complete annexures moves several times faster than one without.

What you can ask for

Removal of the defect, replacement, refund of the price, compensation for loss or injury, and where there is an unfair trade practice or misleading advertisement, further relief. The 2019 Act also introduced product liability, allowing action against the manufacturer, seller or service provider for harm caused by a defective product.

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Go deeper on this

This answer is the short version. These guides cover the same ground in full, with the procedure, the timelines and the leading cases.

SJ

Answered by

Advocate Sharan Jain

Advocate based in Bangalore, practising before the Karnataka High Court and District, Sessions, Consumer and Family courts. Answers public legal questions to make Indian law more accessible.

This answer is general information on Indian law as at July 31, 2026, published for public education. It is not legal advice, it does not take account of your facts, and reading it does not create an advocate-client relationship. Law changes and every case turns on its own circumstances. Please consult a qualified advocate about your own matter.

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