Central Government Revises Fee Structure for Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs) issued the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Amendment Rules, 2022, through a notification dated December 20, 2022. These rules were published in the Official Gazette on December 21, 2022, and came into force on that date. The amendment was enacted by the Central Government in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clauses (q) and (zj) of sub-section (2) of section 101 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (35 of 2019). The primary objective of these amendment rules was to modify the existing fee structure for filing complaints before the District, State, and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions, which were originally established under the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Rules, 2020.

The key provision of the amendment involved the substitution of the Table in rule 7, sub-rule (2) of the principal rules. This new table delineates the amount of fee payable by consumers based on the value of goods or services for which consideration was paid. For complaints filed before a District Commission, no fee is required for claims up to Rupees Five Lakh. A fee of Rupees 200 is applicable for claims above Rupees Five Lakh and up to Rupees Ten Lakh, Rupees 400 for claims above Rupees Ten Lakh and up to Rupees Twenty Lakh, and Rupees 1000 for claims above Rupees Twenty Lakh and up to Rupees Fifty Lakh.

For matters before a State Commission, the revised fee structure mandates Rupees 2000 for claims above Rupees Fifty Lakh and up to Rupees One Crore, and Rupees 2500 for claims above Rupees One Crore and up to Rupees Two Crore. At the National Commission level, the fees range from Rupees 3000 for claims above Rupees Two Crore and up to Rupees Four Crore, increasing progressively to Rupees 7500 for claims exceeding Rupees Ten Crore. This revised schedule directly impacts consumers seeking redressal for disputes concerning goods or services, as well as the administrative processes of the consumer commissions.

The legislative intent behind the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Amendment Rules, 2022, was to update and rationalize the financial framework governing consumer dispute resolution. The earlier legal position, as set out in the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Rules, 2020, included a table specifying fees. The amendment addressed the need to revise these fees, potentially to reflect current economic conditions, manage the volume of complaints, and ensure a balanced approach to access to justice. By adjusting the fee payable based on the monetary value of the claim, the Central Government aimed to ensure that the cost of filing a complaint remains proportionate to the relief sought, while also deterring frivolous litigation.

The amendment specifically substituted the existing fee table, thereby directly modifying the financial obligations of complainants. This change did not introduce new rights or obligations beyond the revised fee structure but rather adjusted an existing procedural requirement. The enforcement mechanism for these fees remains integrated within the operational procedures of the District, State, and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions. The principal rules, which these amendments modify, were originally published on July 15, 2020, indicating a review and adjustment of the framework within a relatively short period. The legislation provided: “In the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Rules, 2020, in rule 7, in sub-rule (2), for the Table, the following Table shall be substituted, namely:-” This substitution ensures that all consumer complaints filed after the rules came into force adhere to the new fee schedule, thereby streamlining the financial aspect of the consumer redressal process across the country.

Keywords: Consumer Protection, Redressal Commissions, Amendment Rules, Consumer Disputes, Fee Structure, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, India, 2022 Geo Tags: India, Delhi District: Not Applicable