This part of the Act contains 22 sections i.e. Sections 9 to18, 18-A, 19 to 23, 24-A, 24-, 25, 26 and 27.
This part provides for establishment of consumer disputes redressal forum at district level, state level and central levels known as “District Forum”, “State Commission” and “National Commission”.
It also makes provisions regarding the composition, jurisdiction, procedure to be followed by the District forum, State commission & National commission. Any person aggrieved by an order of the District forum may appeal to the State commission & an order of the State commission can be challenged before the National Commission. Any person aggrieved by the order of the National Commission can resort to the Supreme court as the last remedy.
It also provides for a limitation period for preferring appeals to the State Commission, National Commission and Supreme Court. District forum, State Commission or National Commission shall not entertain any appeal filed after expiry of 2 years from the date on which the cause of action has arisen. However, the forums have the power to condone the delay in preferring appeals within such time limit if sufficient cause is shown for not filing the appeal within the prescribed time limit. What is “sufficient cause” will depend on the facts and circumstances of every particular case.
It also makes provisions regarding enforcement of the orders of the District forum, State Commission and National Commission and penalties to be levied under the Act. |
