Proceedings before the Commissions: complaint, procedure, powers, remedies, mediation, limitation and execution
LUG-101 Law of Torts including Motor Vehicle Accident and Consumer Protection Act, Unit IV: Initiation of proceedings; grievance redressal procedure of consumer disputes redressal agencies; powers of CDRAs; remedies available under the Act. · LLB · 60 min
How a consumer complaint moves from filing to execution: who may file and how (s. 35, e-filing), admission (s. 36), reference to mediation (s. 37 and Chapter V, ss. 74-81), the procedure for goods and services with laboratory testing, time limits and the civil-court powers (s. 38), the reliefs (s. 39, including punitive damages and corrective advertisement), review (s. 40), limitation (s. 69), enforcement and penalties (ss. 71-73), with the landmark cases on compensation and procedure (Lucknow Development Authority, Indian Medical Association v. V.P. Shantha, Spring Meadows, Poonam Verma, Ghaziabad Development Authority v. Balbir Singh, Dr. J.J. Merchant, Bharathi Knitting). It answers the questions on the grievance redressal procedure (2022-23, 2024-25), the powers of the redressal agencies and the remedies (2025-26) and the procedure before the State and National Commissions (2025-26).
Objectives
- Explain who may file a complaint, where, how and within what time.
- Describe the stages of the procedure from admission to final order, with the statutory time limits.
- List the powers of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies.
- Enumerate the remedies of s. 39 and the principles on which compensation is awarded.
- Explain consumer mediation and the enforcement of orders, including the penalty for non-compliance.
Slides
- Filing a complaint: s. 35
- Admission and mediation: ss. 36-37
- Consumer mediation: Chapter V, ss. 74-81
- Procedure where the complaint relates to goods: s. 38(2)
- Procedure for services; hearing and time limits
- Powers of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies
- Remedies: s. 39(1)
- Compensation: the guiding cases
- Review, limitation and finality
- Enforcement and penalties: ss. 71-73
- The whole procedure in one flow
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