Which Consumer Commission Should You File In?

The following is general information on which consumer commission should you file in under Indian law.

The pecuniary limits that decide whether your complaint goes to the District, State, or National Commission.

The legal position

District Commissions hear claims up to ₹50 lakh, State Commissions from ₹50 lakh to ₹2 crore, and the National Commission above ₹2 crore, measured by the consideration paid for the goods or services (G.S.R. 912(E), 30 Dec 2021).

The Supreme Court upheld this consideration-paid basis for jurisdiction in Rutu Mihir Panchal v Union of India (29 Apr 2025).

As a general rule, an appeal from a District Commission's order generally lies to the State Commission, and from a State Commission's order to the National Commission, within the time limit the Consumer Protection Act sets for appeals.

As a general rule, a complaint can generally be filed by the consumer, a recognised consumer association, the Central or a State Government, or, where there are numerous consumers with the same interest, one or more of them on behalf of all.

How this generally works

Here is how the process typically unfolds.

Work out the consideration paid

Jurisdiction is based on what you paid for the goods or service, not the compensation you are claiming.

Identify the right opposite party

Name the manufacturer, seller, or service provider actually responsible, and any intermediary platform where relevant, since the commission's order binds only the parties named.

File in the matching commission

File in the District, State, or National Commission according to that amount.

If you disagree with the outcome

An appeal generally lies to the next tier up (District to State, State to National), within the statutory time limit for appeals.

Common pitfalls

A handful of issues come up repeatedly in practice.

• Filing based on the compensation sought rather than the consideration paid — this is a common and avoidable jurisdictional error.
• Filing in the wrong commission and losing time to a return or transfer of the complaint.

For related reading, see How Long Do You Have to File a Consumer Complaint? and Filing a Consumer Complaint Online Through e-Jagriti.

If this touches a situation you are dealing with, you are welcome to discuss it in a consultation.

This page is general information about the law in India and is not legal advice. The position can vary with the facts, so it is worth getting advice on your specific situation.