Regulations 10 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.
Regulations 10 to 14 take a case from notice to the opposite party through hearing. They set the usual thirty-day notice, the rules on adjournments and their cost, the reference of complex law points to another Bench, the discipline of brief written arguments and the periods of limitation for revision petitions, ex parte applications, reviews and other applications.
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.
Notice ordinarily runs for thirty days, and fewer in some cases (regulation 10). Adjournments are for exceptional circumstances, with written reasons, and cost may be imposed (regulation 11). A Bench without a member with judicial background may refer a complex law point to a Bench with the President (regulation 12). Counsel must file written arguments two days before the hearing (regulation 13). Regulation 14 sets the periods: revision petition, ninety days from receipt of the certified copy; ex parte or default application, thirty days; review, thirty days from the order; any other application with no period, thirty days from cause of action or knowledge, subject to sections 40, 41, 50, 51, 60, 67 and 69.
Because limitation runs from fixed dates, many parties take legal dispute resolution advice as soon as an order is received.
Regulation 10: issue of notice
| Sub-regulation | What it says |
|---|---|
| (1) | Notice to opposite parties or respondents ordinarily runs for thirty days, and "depending upon the circumstances of each case, even for less than thirty days" |
| (2) | Where there is a question of raising presumption of service, thirty days' notice is required |
| (3) | Where notices are sent by courier, it shall be ascertained that the courier is of repute |
| (4) | When appointing a courier to serve notice, a security deposit may also be taken |
| (5) | Along with the notice, copies of the complaint, memorandum of grounds of appeal or petition, and other documents filed are served |
| (6) | After appearance, no application or document is received by the Registrar unless it bears an endorsement that a copy has been served on the other side |
Sub-regulation (6) is a filing discipline: once the opposite party has put in appearance, every later application or document must carry an endorsement of service on the other side. Our post on the Act's rule for service of notice and the rest of the Act's procedure is separate.
Regulation 11: adjournment
- Every proceeding is conducted "as expeditiously as possible and as per the requirements of the Act" (11(1)).
- The Commission records the reasons for any adjournment (11(2)).
- A request for adjournment is entertained "only in exceptional circumstances and for reasons to be recorded in writing" (11(3)). The proviso: where an adjournment is prayed for under other circumstances, the Commission may, unless sufficient cause is shown, "impose such cost, as it deems necessary, for granting such adjournment".
- The cost may be given to the other party "to defray his or their expenses or be deposited in the Consumer Legal Aid Account to be maintained by the respective Consumer Commission" (11(4)).
- Orders adjourning a matter "shall be signed by the concerned President and members of the Consumer Commission and not by the Court Master or Bench Clerk" (11(5)).
The regulation prints no amount of cost; it is "as it deems necessary". A party who asks for a date without a good reason should expect to pay costs. The rules for adjournments in appeals are also in rule 11 and rule 14 of the CDRC Rules.
Regulation 12: hearing by Benches
Where a Bench constituted by the President of the State Commission or the National Commission under section 47(2) or section 58(2) "does not have a member with judicial background and any complex question of law arises and there is no precedent to decide the law point, the Bench so constituted may refer the matter to the President of the State Commission or the National Commission, as the case may be, to constitute another Bench of which the President shall be a member".
Three conditions must all be present: no member with judicial background on the Bench, a complex question of law and no precedent. The result is a Bench of which the President is a member. The regulation says nothing about the District Commission.
Regulation 13: arguments
- Arguments "should be as brief as possible and to the point at issue" (13(1)).
- Where a party is represented by counsel, "it shall be mandatory to file a brief of written arguments two days before the matter is fixed for arguments" (13(2)).
- In case of default to file briefs, the Commission "shall impose such cost as it deems necessary" (13(3)).
A counsel who files late faces cost. The two-day period is the one printed; the regulation does not say whether the day of hearing counts.
Regulation 14: limitation
Regulation 14(1) begins "Subject to the provisions of sections 40, 41, 50, 51, 60, 67 and 69". Those sections of the Act deal with review, appeal and limitation; where the Act itself prescribes a period it prevails. Subject to that, the periods are:
| Matter | Period | Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Revision petition | Within ninety days from the date of receipt of the certified copy of the order | 14(1)(i) |
| Application for setting aside an ex parte order under section 61, or dismissal of the complaint in default | Maintainable if filed within thirty days from the date of the order or date of receipt of the order, as the case may be | 14(1)(ii) |
| Application for review under sections 40, 50 and 60 | Filed with the District, State and National Commission respectively within thirty days from the date of the order | 14(1)(iii) |
| Any application for which no period is specified in the Act, the rules or these regulations | Thirty days from the date of the cause of action or the date of knowledge | 14(1)(iv) |
Condonation (14(2)). "Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Consumer Commission may condone the delay in filing an application or a petition referred to in sub-regulation (1) if valid and sufficient reasons to its satisfaction are given."
The first period is measured from receipt of the certified copy, the second and third from the date of the order (the second also from receipt "as the case may be"), and the fourth from the cause of action or knowledge. An appeal period under sections 41 and 51 is in the Act and not in these regulations. See our post on limitation for complaints under section 69 and, for appeals, rule 11 and rule 14 of the CDRC Rules, which refer to the periods in sections 41 and 51.
An invented example: Dev's complaint is dismissed in default on 10 March. Regulation 14(1)(ii) gives him thirty days from the date of the order, or from receipt of the order as the case may be, to apply. He receives a certified copy of an adverse State Commission order and wishes to file a revision petition: the period is ninety days from receipt of the certified copy, subject to the Act. Dates need to be counted carefully; this article does not compute end dates. A party who misses a period can ask for condonation with valid and sufficient reasons, but should not rely on it.
Checklist before a hearing
- Check the notice period and whether service has been properly effected.
- Avoid adjournments unless exceptional circumstances exist, and record reasons if you seek one.
- File written arguments two days before the hearing if you have counsel.
- Diarise limitation for revision, ex parte, review and other applications.
For the review process see regulations 15 to 18; for earlier steps see regulations 7 to 9.
Need help with limitation and hearing steps?
If you are calculating a limitation period, preparing written arguments or deciding whether to seek an adjournment, our legal dispute resolution team can help.
Key takeaways
- Notice ordinarily runs for thirty days; courier service must be through a reputed courier.
- Adjournments need exceptional circumstances and written reasons, and costs may be imposed.
- Counsel must file written arguments two days before the hearing; default attracts cost.
- Revision: ninety days from the certified copy; ex parte or default application: thirty days; review: thirty days; other applications: thirty days.
- The periods are subject to sections 40, 41, 50, 51, 60, 67 and 69, and delay may be condoned for valid and sufficient reasons.
Read next
- Regulations 15-18: review, consumer organisations, ex parte orders and final orders
- Rule 11: appeal to the State Commission
- Rules 13-18: appeals to the National Commission
- Section 69: limitation period for complaints
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.