Pecuniary Jurisdiction Under The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 - A Concept Evolving Backwards?

1. INTRODUCTION

Consumers are often confused as to which forum has the pecuniary jurisdiction to entertain their complaint. Despite the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 ("1986 Act") containing specific provisions catering to the pecuniary jurisdictions of fora, the interpretation of these provisions by the courts has led to emergence of divergent views with regard to maintainability of complaints before a forum.

Section 11(1) of the 1986 Act stipulated that the District Forum shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the "value of the goods or services and the compensation, if any, claimed" does not exceed rupees twenty lakhs. Similarly, jurisdiction for State Commissions under Section 17(1)(a) was set for disputes between twenty lakhs and one crore; and National Commission for Disputes Redressal Commission ("NCDRC") under Section 21(a) for disputes valued at one crore and above.