Section 12 – THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2019

—(1) A complaint in relation to any goods sold or
delivered or agreed to be sold or delivered or any service provided or agreed to be provided may be filed
with a District Forum by—
(a) the consumer to whom such goods are sold or delivered or agreed to be sold or delivered or
such service provided or agreed to be provided;
(b) any recognised consumer association whether the consumer to whom the goods sold or
delivered or agreed to be sold or delivered or service provided or agreed to be provided is a member
of such association or not;

1. Subs. by Act 62 of 2002, s. 6, for sub-section (2) (w.e.f. 15-3-2003).
2. Ins. by s. 6, ibid. (w.e.f. 15-3-2003).
3. Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for “does not exceed rupees five lakhs” (w.e.f. 15-3-2003)
4. Subs. by Act 50 of 1993, s. 9, for “carries on business or” (w.e.f. 18-6-1993).
5. Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for “carries on business” (w.e.f. 18-6-1993).
6. Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for “carry on business” (w.e.f 18-6-1993).
7. Subs. by Act 62 of 2002, s. 8, for section 12 (w.e.f. 15-3-2003).
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(c) one or more consumers, where there are numerous consumers having the same interest, with
the permission of the District Forum, on behalf of, or for the benefit of, all consumers so interested; or
(d) the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, either in its individual
capacity or as a representative of interests of the consumers in general.
(2) Every complaint filed under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied with such amount of fee and
payable in such manner as may be prescribed.
(3) On receipt of a complaint made under sub-section (1), the District Forum may, by order, allow the
complaint to be proceeded with or rejected:
Provided that a complaint shall not be rejected under this sub-section unless an opportunity of being
heard has been given to the complainant:
Provided further that the admissibility of the complaint shall ordinarily be decided within twenty-one
days from the date on which the complaint was received.
(4) Where a complaint is allowed to be proceeded with under sub-section (3), the District Forum may
proceed with the complaint in the manner provided under this Act:
Provided that where a complaint has been admitted by the District Forum, it shall not be transferred to
any other court or tribunal or any authority set up by or under any other law for the time being in force.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “recognised consumer association” means any
voluntary consumer association registered under the Companies Act, 1956 (1 of 1956) or any other law
for the time being in force.]