The National Commission

In one line

The National Commission hears complaints above two crore rupees, appeals from the State Commissions and from the Central Authority, and revisions, and an appeal from it lies to the Supreme Court.

In the wording a student can write in an exam: the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is set up by section 53 and manned under section 54 by a President with a minimum of four members. Section 58 confers four jurisdictions on it, original above the prescribed value, original over unfair contracts above ten crore rupees, appellate from the State Commissions and from the Central Authority, and revisional over the State Commissions on the three grounds already learnt for section 47(1)(b). Section 60 empowers it to review its own orders, and section 67 carries a further appeal to the Supreme Court, limited to orders in original jurisdiction, to be filed in thirty days and preceded by a deposit of half of whatever the appellant was ordered to pay.

Establishment and composition

Section 53. The Central Government shall establish the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, known as the National Commission. It ordinarily functions in the National Capital Region and may sit elsewhere as notified, and the Central Government may establish regional Benches.

Section 54. Its strength is a President together with a minimum of four members, the maximum being left to the rules.

Sections 55 to 57 deal with qualifications, appointment and conditions of service, with vacancies, and with officers and employees. Sections 59, 61 to 66 deal with the procedure applicable, its powers, the finality of orders, and connected matters.

The four jurisdictions: section 58

Original. Complaints where the value of the goods or services paid as consideration exceeds the prescribed amount, printed as ten crore rupees and prescribed as two crore; and complaints against unfair contracts where the value paid as consideration exceeds ten crore rupees.

Appellate over the State Commissions. Appeals against the orders of any State Commission.

Appellate over the regulator. Appeals against the orders of the Central Authority, which section 24 provides for, within thirty days.

Revisional. The records of any dispute pending before or already decided by a State Commission may be sent for, and such order made on them as the case requires, on the same three grounds that section 47(1)(b) gives a State Commission over a District Commission and which chapter [The State Commission] sets out word for word: jurisdiction assumed without authority, jurisdiction refused when it existed, or jurisdiction used illegally or with material irregularity.

Benches. By section 58(2) the President may constitute Benches to exercise these jurisdictions, the seniormost member of a Bench taking the chair, and section 58(3) says what happens when the members of a Bench differ.