3
WHAT IS A COMPLAINT?
“Complaint”meansanyallegationin
writingmademyacompliantthat:
I.Anunfairtradepracticeorarestrictive
tradepracticehasbeenadoptedbyany
traderorserviceprovider;
II.Thegoodsboughtbyhimoragreedtobe
boughtbyhimsufferfromoneormore
defects;
III.Theserviceshiredoravailedoforagreed
tobehiredoravailedoffbyhimsuffer
fromdeficiencyinanyrespect;
4
WHAT IS A COMPLAINT?
IV.Atraderorserviceproviderasthecasemay
behaschargedforthegoodsorforthe
servicesmentionedinthecomplaint,aprice
inexcessoftheprice
a)fixedbyorunderanylawforthetimebeing
inforce;
b)displayedonthegoodsoranypackage
containingsuchgoods;
c)displayedonthepricelistexhibitedbyhim
byorunderanylawforthetimebeingin
force;
d)agreedbetweentheparties.
5
WHAT IS A COMPLAINT?
V.Goodswhichwillbehazardoustolife
andsafetywhenusedarebeingoffered
forsaletothepublic–
a)Incontraventionofanystandards
relatingtosafetyofsuchgoodsas
requiredtobecompiledwith,byor
underanylawforthetimebeingin
force;
b)Ifthetradercouldhaveknownwithdue
diligencethatthegoodssoofferedare
unsafetothepublic;
6
WHAT IS A COMPLAINT?
VI.Servicewhicharehazardousorlikelyt
behazardoustothelifeandsafetyof
thepublicwhenused,arebeing
offeredbytheserviceproviderwhich
suchpersoncouldhaveknownwith
duediligencetobeinjurioustolifeand
safety.
7
WHO IS A CONSUMER ?
Anypersonwhobuysgoodsor
availsservicesforconsideration
Considerationmaybefullypaid,
partiallypaidorfullypromisedtobe
paidorpartiallypromisedtobepaid
Anybodywhousesthegoodsor
serviceswiththeconsentofthe
consumer
8
WHO IS A CONSUMER ?
Legalheirofconsumerincasedeathof
consumer
Doesnotincludeanypersonwhobuys
goodsforresaleorcommercialpurpose
andservicesforcommercialpurpose
Howeveranypersonwhobuysgoodsfor
commercialusebutexclusivelyforhis
livelihoodbymeansofselfemployment
isaconsumer.
9
WHAT IS A DEFECT ?
Fault
Imperfection
Shortcoming
In the
Quality
Quantity
Potency
Purity Or
Standards
Which is required to be maintained by or
under any law for the time being in force
10
WHAT IS A DEFICIENCY ?
Fault
Imperfection
Shortcoming Or
Inadequacy
In the
Quality
Standard and
Manner of
performance
Which is required to be maintained by or
under any law for the time being in force
11
WHAT IS A SERVICE?
“Service” means service of any description, which is
made available to potential users and includes, but not
limited to the provisions of the facilities in connection
with
1) banking 2) financing 3) insurance 4) transport
5) processing 6) supply of electrical or other energy
7) boarding or lodging or both 8) house construction
9) entertainment 10) amusement or
11) the purveying or new or other information
But does not include the rendering of any service free of
charge or under a contract of personal service
13
JURISDICTION
Forum / Commission Where the value of the goods or
services and the compensation, if
any claimed,
District Forum Does not exceed Rs. 20 lakhs
State Commission Rs. 20 lakhs and above but not
exceeding One Crore
National CommissionAbove One Crore
Besides, State and National Commission have appellate
jurisdiction also.
18
FILING OF COMPLAINTS
Acomplaintmaybefiledby
a)Theconsumertowhomthegoodsaresold
orservicesareprovided
b)Anyrecognisedconsumerassociation
c)One or more consumers with same interest
d)Thecentralgovernmentorstategovernment
19
FILING OF COMPLAINTS
The Fee for filing the Complaint for the district forum is as under
Sr.
No.
Value of Goods / Service and Compensation Amount
of Fees
1) Upto Rs. 1 lakh rupees Rs. 100
2) Rs. 1 Lakh and above but less than Rs.5 lakhs Rs. 200
3)Rs. 5 Lakhs and above but less than Rs. 10 lakhs Rs. 400
4) Rs. 10 lakhs and above but less than Rs. 20 lakhs
ThefeesshallbepaidbyCrossdemandDraftdrawnonanationalized
bankorthroughcrossedIndianpostalorderdrawninfavourofthe
RegistraroftheSateCommissionandpayableattheplaceoftheState
Commission(w.e.f.5.3.2004.)
20
RELIEF TO THE COMPLAINANT ?
IF THE COMPLAINT IS PROVED THE FORUM SHALL
ORDER
a)toremovedefectpointedoutbytheappropriatelaboratory
fromthegoodsinquestion;
b)toreplacethegoodswithnewgoodsofsimilardescription
whichshallbefreefromanydefect;
c)toreturntothecomplainanttheprice,or,asthecasemay
be,thechargespaidbythecomplainant;
d)topaysuchamountasmaybeawardedbyitas
compensationtotheconsumerforanylossorinjurysuffered
bytheconsumerduetonegligenceoftheoppositeparty;
e)Toremovethedefectingoodsordeficiencyintheservicesin
question.
21
RELIEF TO THE COMPLAINANT ?
f)todiscontinuetheunfairtradepracticeortherestrictive
tradepracticeornottorepeatthem;
g)nottoofferhazardousgoodsforsale;
h)towithdrawthehazardousgoodsfrombeingofferedfor
sale;
ha)toceasemanufactureofhazardousgoodsandtodesistfrom
offeringserviceswhicharehazardousinnature;
hb)topaysuchsumasmaybedeterminedbyit,ifitisofthe
opinionthatlossorinjuryhasbeensufferedbyalarge
numberofconsumerswhoarenotidentifiableconveniently.
hc)toissuecorrectiveadvertisementstoneutralizetheeffectof
misleadingadvertisementatthecostoftheoppositeparty
responsibleforissuingsuchmisleadingadvertisement;
i)Toprovideforadequatecosttoparties.
CentralCouncil
StateCouncil
DistrictCouncil
CONSUMERPROTECTIONCOUNCILS
To protect the rights of consumer following councils
are established under the act: