The Centre on Thursday notified rules for Consumer Protection (Jurisdiction of the District Commission, the State Commission and the National Commission) Rules, 2021.
In exercising the powers conferred on it by the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 34, subsection (i) of subsection (a) of subsection (1) of section 47 and subsection (i) of subsection (a) of subsection (1) of section 58 read with subsection (o), ( x) and (zc) of subsection (2) of section 101 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Central Government has introduced Consumer Protection Laws (Regional Commission Area, National Commission and National Commission Rules), 2021, “said the Department of Consumer Affairs, Food and Distribution.
According to the notice, regional commissions will have the power to lodge complaints when the amount of goods or services paid does not exceed Rs 50 lakh. In addition, State commissions can consider complaints within Rs 50 lakh- Rs per crores.
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides a three-pronged approach to resolving consumer disputes namely regional commissions, state commissions and national commissions. The law also sets out the administrative powers for each stage of the consumer commission.
In accordance with the existing provisions of the Act, Regional Commissions have the authority to appeal complaints when the value of goods or services paid as consideration does not exceed Rs one million. State Commissions have the power to lodge complaints when the amount of goods or services paid as a consideration, exceeds Rs 1 million, but does not exceed Rs 10 crore rupees and the National Commission has the authority to lodge complaints when the value of goods or services paid as contemplated exceeds Rs. 10 million.
After the enactment of the Act, it became apparent that the existing provisions relating to the financial authority of consumer commissions led to cases that could be referred to the National Commission for State Commissions and cases that could be referred to State Commissions to Regional Commissions.
“This has resulted in a significant increase in the work of the District Commissioners, which has led to an increase in the independence and delay in dismissal of cases, defeating the very purpose of obtaining immediate consumer redress as envisaged under the Act,” the Department said in its official release.
In terms of financial review, Central Government held extensive consultations with countries / UTs, consumer organizations, legal seats, etc. and examined the issues that led to the lengthy prosecution in detail.
With the notice of the above-mentioned legislation, the new financial powers, subject to other provisions of the Act, will effect certain changes.
Firstly, Regional Commissions will have the power to lodge complaints when the amount of goods or services is paid as consideration does not exceed 50 lakh rupees.
Second, State Commissions will have the power to lodge complaints when the value of goods or services being considered exceeds 50 lakh rupees but not more than two thousand rupees.
Thirdly, the National Commission will have the authority to appeal complaints when the amount of goods or services payable as contemplated exceeds two rupees.
It could be argued that the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 stipulates that every appeal must be dismissed as soon as possible and an appeal must be made within a period of three months from the date of receipt of notice by the opposing party where the complaint does not require analysis or inspection of property and within 5 months property inspection.
The law also gives consumers the option to file an electronic complaint. To make it easier for consumers to file their complaints online, Central Government has established the E-Daakhil Portal, which provides a trouble-free, fast and inexpensive place for consumers across the country to easily approach the appropriate consumer forum, providing the need to travel. and be literally present to lodge their complaint.
In order to provide a quick and peaceful way to resolve consumer disputes, the Act also includes an index of consumer disputes in Mediation, with the consent of both parties. This will not only save time and money for the parties involved in the dispute, but will also help reduce the tension in all cases, the department said.