Consumer Court Filing Guide: e-Daakhil Process, Fees and Jurisdictions

1. Pecuniary Jurisdiction (Revised Financial Limits)

Before preparing your petition, you must determine which commission has the authority to hear your case based on the total value of goods or services paid:

• District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (DCDRC): Handles cases valued up to ₹50 Lakhs (revised under government notification dated December 30, 2021, from the initial ₹1 Crore limit).
• State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC): Handles cases valued between ₹50 Lakhs and ₹2 Crores.
• National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC): Handles cases valued above ₹2 Crores.

*Note: Jurisdiction is determined strictly by the actual value paid for the product/service at checkout, not the inflated compensation or damages claimed. For instance, if you bought a laptop for Rs. 45 Lakhs but claim Rs. 10 Lakhs in damages, the pecuniary value is Rs. 45 Lakhs, meaning it falls under the District Commission. The value is calculated after deducting trade discounts but including GST.*

2. Territorial Jurisdiction (Where to File)

Under Section 34 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, territorial rules have been simplified to favor consumers:

• You (the consumer) can file the case where you reside or work.
• You can also file where the company's registered office or branch office is located.
• Or, you can file where the cause of action arose (e.g., place of purchase or delivery address).

3. Step 1: Sending the Mandatory Legal Notice

Before filing an e-Daakhil case, you must send a formal legal notice to the opposite party. This is a critical step that demonstrates your attempt at amicable resolution.

• Draft a detailed letter outlining the purchase date, payment proof, product defect, and previous communication (like NCH complaints).
• Give the seller 15 days to refund or replace the item.
• Mention clearly: "If the issue is not resolved within 15 days, I shall approach the Consumer Commission."
• Send it via Speed Post or registered email, keeping the delivery acknowledgement safe.

Pre-Litigation Mediation:

Under Section 37 of the 2019 Act, the Consumer Commission can refer the dispute to a Mediation Cell if both parties agree to resolve it amicably. Mediation is conducted by trained neutral mediators and must be completed within 30 days. If a settlement is reached, the commission passes an order accordingly, and there is no appeal allowed against a settlement order.

4. Step 2: Registering on e-Daakhil

• Visit the official e-filing portal edaakhil.nic.in.
• Click on 'Registration' and choose 'Consumer/Advocate'.
• Input your Aadhaar card details, email, and mobile number.
• Verify your email via the activation link and log in using your password and OTP.

5. Step 3: Preparing the Case Files (PDF Specifications)

Each document must be converted to PDF, signed by you, and kept under the 2MB size limit.

• Index: List of all documents submitted with page numbers.
• Memo of Parties: Names, addresses, and contacts of the consumer and the seller.
• Main Complaint Petition: Detailed, chronological narrative of the dispute, ending with a specific 'Prayer' (relief sought, such as refund + interest + litigation costs).
• Verification / Affidavit: A signed declaration stating that the facts mentioned are true to your knowledge.
• Evidence Annexures: Invoices, bank statements, photos, notice copy, and delivery receipt.

Common Rejection Grounds for e-Daakhil Petitions:

To avoid your case being rejected or put on hold by the court registrar:

• No Legal Notice Proof: Failing to upload a copy of the mandatory 15-day notice with its delivery speed post receipt.
• Incorrect Pecuniary Value: Choosing the wrong commission level for your transaction amount (e.g. filing a Rs. 10 Lakh dispute in the National Commission instead of the District level).
• Missing Signed Affidavit: Failing to physically sign, scan, and upload the verification affidavit alongside the complaint.
• Unclear Opposing Party Details: Not providing the registered office address or name of the grievance officer of the seller.

6. e-Daakhil Filing Fee Structure

Court fee payments must be made online using credit cards, net banking, or UPI via the Bharatkosh portal integrated inside e-Daakhil. The filing fee must be paid before the petition is officially registered by the registry.

If either party is dissatisfied with the order passed by the District Commission, they can file an appeal with the State Commission under Section 41 within 45 days of receiving the order copy. Similarly, State Commission orders can be appealed in the National Commission, and NCDRC orders can be appealed in the Supreme Court of India.

Official Sources

• e-Daakhil Portal: edaakhil.nic.in
• National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission: ncdrc.nic.in
• Department of Consumer Affairs: consumeraffairs.gov.in