Consumer disputes cover defective goods, deficient services, unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, and overcharging — from a faulty appliance to a builder's delayed possession to an airline's cancelled flight. These are governed by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which set up a three-tier system: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions for lower-value claims, State Commissions for mid-range claims and appeals, and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) for high-value claims and further appeals.
The 2019 Act also created the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which can act against misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices even without an individual complaint, and introduced specific provisions for e-commerce transactions and product liability — meaning a manufacturer can be held liable for harm caused by a defective product even without a direct contract with the consumer.
Consumer complaints are designed to be relatively accessible — filing fees are low and procedure is simpler than a regular civil suit — but higher-value claims, product liability cases, or disputes involving builders, insurers, or medical negligence benefit from a lawyer's help in drafting the complaint and marshalling evidence, since these commissions still expect proper documentation and legal grounds.