Free guide: Faulty product or poor service
Consumer Forum complaint
File a complaint before the District / State / National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for defective goods, service deficiency, or unfair trade practice.
A complaint before a Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is the principal civil remedy under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 for defective goods, deficiency in service, or unfair trade practice. The Act distinguishes a "consumer" (a person buying goods or hiring services for consideration, not for resale or commercial purpose) from a commercial-purpose buyer who falls outside the framework. A complaint may seek removal of the defect, replacement, refund, compensation for loss or injury, costs, and punitive damages where unfair conduct is established.
The three tiers of jurisdiction post the Consumer Protection (Jurisdiction) Rules, 2021 are: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission for claims up to ₹50 lakh, State Commission for claims between ₹50 lakh and ₹2 crore, and National Commission for claims above ₹2 crore. Limitation under Section 69 is two years from the date of cause of action, with discretion to condone delay on cause shown. The 2019 Act also introduced Chapter V mediation as a consensual pre-adjudication route.
In Uttarakhand, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) sits at Dehradun, with District Commissions across the 13 districts: Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, Almora, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Bageshwar, Rudraprayag, Chamoli, Uttarkashi, and Udham Singh Nagar. Under Section 34(2) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, complaints may be filed in the District Commission where the cause of action arose, where the opposite party resides or carries on business, or where the complainant resides or works for gain — the last being a major reform of the 2019 Act. Filing fees are scaled to claim value as prescribed under the District Commission rules.
NyaySetu Law's Consumer Forum complaint service drafts the complaint, computes the right tier under the 2021 Jurisdiction Rules, compiles supporting documents, and identifies whether Chapter V mediation should be opted for. You file or e-file the complaint at the chosen Commission.