Regulations explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The Consumer Commission Procedure Regulations, 2020 set the working procedure of every Consumer Commission. Regulations 1 to 6 are the opening provisions: commencement and definitions, the arrangements that make a Commission look different from a court, a dress code, hearing hours and the weekly and daily cause lists.
This article takes the regulations as amended up to 3 October 2026 (no amending regulations traced). Later amendments should be checked on the website of the Department of Consumer Affairs and the National Commission.
The Regulations were made by the National Commission under section 103(1) with the Central Government's previous approval and supersede the Consumer Protection Regulations, 2005. A Commission, being not a regular court, keeps arrangements that distinguish it from one: a dais of not more than 30 centimetres, equal chairs without high backs, simple and sober dress and hearing hours of 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. The tentative weekly cause list and the final next-day cause list are displayed on the notice board and the website.
A consumer complaint filing adviser can explain how the regulations fit together for a particular complaint.
Regulation 1: title, authority and commencement
The Regulations are made by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission under sub-section (1) of section 103 of the Act, "with the previous approval of the Central Government", on 24 July 2020 (F. No. A-105/CCPR/NCDRC/2020), "in supersession of the Consumer Protection Regulations, 2005, except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such supersession". They "shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette". The regulation-making power is explained in our post on sections 103 to 105.
Regulation 2: definitions
| Clause | Term | Meaning in short |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Act | The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 |
| (b) | agent | A person duly authorised by a party to present any complaint, appeal or revision, to file a written version or written submissions, and to address or plead for that party before the Consumer Commission |
| (c) | Consumer Commission | A District, State or National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission |
| (d) | Registrar | The head of the ministerial establishment of the Consumer Commission, exercising the powers and functions conferred by the President |
| (e) | rules | The rules made under the Act |
| (f) | section | A section of the Act |
| (g) | other terms | The meaning given in the Act or the rules |
The "agent" definition is wider than the CDRC Rules' "authorised agent": it includes filing written versions and submissions and pleading. See rule 2 of the CDRC Rules.
Regulation 3: arrangements in a Commission
Regulation 3(1): "A Consumer Commission, being not a regular court, shall have the arrangements as to depict it distinct from a court." Three specifics follow.
- Dais (3(2)). In the hall where the Commission hears the parties, "the dais may not be kept more than 30 centimetre in height than the place earmarked for the parties to occupy."
- Seating (3(3)). The President and members "shall use the same type of chairs at the same level and these chairs need not have high backs".
- Appearance (3(4)). "The complainant and the opposite party can appear in person or through agent or through counsel." A party need not hire a lawyer.
Regulation 4: dress code
Regulation 4(1) says the President and members, while presiding over Benches:
- (a) shall wear simple and sober dress; and
- (b) shall not wear (i) flashy dress or dress displaying any affluence, (ii) jeans or T-shirts, or (iii) such dress as may be prescribed for judges of the High Court or the District Court.
Regulation 4(2) extends clause (a) and sub-clauses (i) and (ii) of clause (b) to "the complainant, opposite party, counsel or agent". The bar on court dress under (b)(iii) applies to the Commission's members only. Parties, counsel and agents follow the simple, sober dress rule and avoid flashy dress, jeans and T-shirts.
An invented example: Rekha is to appear before a District Commission as a complainant in person. She wears a plain, formal outfit rather than jeans and a T-shirt, which regulation 4(2) rules out for parties.
Regulation 5: hearing hours
"Subject to the provisions of any rules made in this behalf, the normal working hours of the Consumer Commission for hearing matters shall be from 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. on all working days of the Central Government in the case of the National Commission and on all working days of the State Government in the case of the State Commission and the District Commission."
| Commission | Hearing hours | Working days |
|---|---|---|
| National Commission | 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. | Working days of the Central Government |
| State Commission | Same | Working days of the State Government |
| District Commission | Same | Working days of the State Government |
The words "Subject to the provisions of any rules made in this behalf" mean the Rules prevail if they provide otherwise. Rule 3 of the CDRC Rules gives the National Commission the Central Government's working days and office hours.
Regulation 6: cause list
- Tentative list (6(1)). A "Tentative Cause List of cases to be heard by the Consumer Commission in the following entire week shall be made ready before the close of the working hours of the preceding week and displayed on the notice board and shall also be hosted on the website".
- Final list (6(2)). The "Final Cause List of cases to be heard on the following day shall be made ready before the close of the working hours of the preceding day and displayed on the notice board and also hosted on the website".
- Parts (6(3)). The cause list is split into such parts as the President of the National Commission decides from time to time.
- Particulars (6(4)). Every cause list contains the serial number, the number of the matter, names of the parties and the name of the party, counsel or agent appearing.
- No excuse (6(5)). "If a date of hearing is given in the presence of parties or their agents, it shall not be a ground for non-appearance for the reason that the cause list for the concerned date does not show the matter or contains incorrect entry or there is omission of the particulars of the matter."
Regulation 6(5) matters most for parties. If the Commission gives a date in your presence, you must attend even if the cause list is wrong or silent. A party who relies on the cause list alone risks an ex parte order. For the effect of default see rule 12 of the CDRC Rules.
How the regulations continue
Filing and scrutiny are in regulations 7 to 9, notice, adjournments, arguments and limitation in regulations 10 to 14, review and orders in regulations 15 to 18, records and certified copies in regulations 19 to 23 and practice directions and miscellaneous provisions in regulations 24 to 26.
Need help appearing before a Consumer Commission?
If you are a complainant or opposite party preparing to appear in person or through an agent, our consumer complaint filing team can help you understand the procedure and prepare for the hearing.
Key takeaways
- The Regulations took effect on publication and supersede the Consumer Protection Regulations, 2005.
- A Commission keeps arrangements that distinguish it from a court: a low dais and equal chairs.
- Simple and sober dress applies to members, parties, counsel and agents; no jeans or T-shirts.
- Hearing hours are 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. on working days.
- A hearing date given in your presence must be kept even if the cause list is wrong.
Read next
- Regulations 7-9: filing, numbering and scrutiny of complaints
- Regulations 10-14: notice, adjournment, benches, arguments and limitation
- Sections 103-105: regulations by the National Commission and the CCPA
- Rules 1-5 of the CDRC Rules, 2020
Disclaimer: Based on the rules, regulations and guidelines named above as published in the Gazette of India or on the CCPA website, with the amending notifications the article names (consulted on 3 October 2026). Later amendments, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provisions referred to, State rules and CCPA advisories should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.