How Many Levels of Consumer Courts are Present in India

Introduction

In India, a consumer court is a special-purpose court. It primarily handles consumer disputes, disagreements, and grievances. The court organises hearings to settle these disputes. When a consumer files a claim, the court examines it to see if they can substantiate the exploitation with documentation such as bills or purchase memoranda. When no such proof is shown, courts rarely find in favour of the plaintiff. The court typically bases its decision on an infringement of consumer rights. The purpose of creating a separate forum for consumer disputes is to ensure that such problems are resolved quickly and cheaply.

There are Various Levels of Consumer Courts in India.

1. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC): A national court that hears cases where the desired compensation exceeds one crore (ten million). The National Commission is the highest appellate court in the consumer court hierarchy as well as the supreme body of consumer courts. The NCDRC is the highest consumer court in India, the Consumer Supreme Court.

2. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC): A state-level court that hears cases involving compensation claims ranging from Rs. 20 lacks (two million) to Rs. 1 crore. The District Forum has appellate jurisdiction over the State Commission.

3. District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCDRF): A district-level court that hears cases where the sought compensation is less than twenty lakh rupees.

The Process to File a Complaint.

A consumer acquires a copy of the Consumer Protection Act in order to submit a complaint. Making a complaint is straightforward, and instructions are supplied for guidance. It is best to describe the facts and provide extensive data to back up your claim.

1) In the complaint file, the consumer must include photocopies of documents (proof and references).

2) The documents should be accompanied by a signed vakalatnama. This gives permission for a lawyer to represent the matter before the Consumer Court.

Jurisdiction

The jurisdictions of the courts are determined by the court's hierarchy;

1. Pecuniary Jurisdiction: The District Consumer Dispute Relief Forum has financial jurisdiction up to Rs. If the claim exceeds INR 200,000 but does not exceed INR 100,000,000, the State Consumer Dispute Relief Board will have financial jurisdiction. If the claim exceeds INR 10 million, the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission will have financial jurisdiction.

2. Territorial Jurisdiction: After establishing pecuniary jurisdiction, territorial jurisdiction is to be considered. A complaint may be brought in a court located within certain local limits;

When the opposing party chooses to live or work within certain boundaries. What is the source of the action?

You can use the same laws that apply to contract law to determine where the cause of action originates.

When a transaction is completed online, territorial jurisdiction applies. Online transactions effectively nullify territorial jurisdiction. In this instance, territorial jurisdiction exists in any of the various locations where the cause of action arises, including where the appellant resides.

3. Appellate Jurisdiction: If a consumer is dissatisfied with the district forum's judgement, he or she may file an appeal with the state commission.

If a consumer is dissatisfied with the judgement of the state commission, he or she may file an appeal with the national commission.

If a consumer is unhappy with the national commission's decision, he or she may appeal to the Supreme Court.

Conclusion

The primary function of the consumer court is to provide redress to consumers and keep sellers focused on treating customers fairly. Approaching a consumer court is inexpensive because plaintiffs can represent themselves without the assistance of a lawyer and simply pay a small cost.