National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC)

About National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC):

• It is a quasi-judicial commission in India which was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.
• Mandate: To provide inexpensive, speedy and summary redressal of consumer disputes.
• Its head office is in New Delhi.
• The Commission is headed by a sitting or a retired Judge of the SC or a sitting or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court.
• NCDRC shall have jurisdiction to entertain a complaint valued more than two crore and also have appellate and revisional jurisdiction from the orders of State Commissions or the District fora as the case may be.
• The provisions of this act cover ‘goods’ as well as ‘services’.
  • The goods are those which are manufactured or produced and sold to consumers through wholesalers and retailers.
  • The services are in the nature of transport, telephone, electricity, housing, banking, insurance, medical treatment, etc.
• Eligibility to File a Claim: Any person who
  • Has bought goods for consideration and finds any defect in the quality, quantity, potency, purity, or standard of the goods, or
  • Has hired or availed any service for consideration and finds any fault, imperfection, shortcoming, or inadequacy in the quality, nature, and manner of performance in relation to the service.
  • However, if a person has bought the goods for resale or for a commercial purpose, he is not a consumer.
  • No complaint can be filed for alleged deficiency in any service that is rendered free of charge or under a contract of personal service.
• Who Can File a Complaint: A complaint may be filed by the following:
  • A consumer
  • Any voluntary consumer association registered under the Companies Act 1956
  • The Central Government or any State Government
  • One or more consumers where there are numerous consumers.
• Appeal: Any person aggrieved by an order of NCDRC, may prefer an appeal against such an order to SC within a period of 30 days.