Rule 7 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.
Rule 7 says every consumer complaint must be accompanied by a fee, set by a Table that depends on the value of the goods or services paid as consideration. The fee is nil for complaints up to rupees five lakh and rises in steps. Rule 7 also says how the fee can be paid and where it is credited. A consumer complaint filing service can check the row and the payment method for a particular complaint.
This article takes the rules as amended up to G.S.R. 606(E) dated 17 August 2023. Both amendments, G.S.R. 892(E) of 20 December 2022 and G.S.R. 606(E), touched only the Table in rule 7; the 2023 Table is the current one and the earlier Tables are replaced. Later amendments should be checked on the website of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Every complaint under section 35(1), and under section 47(1)(a)(i) and (ii) and section 58(1)(a)(i) and (ii), must be accompanied by a fee as per the Table. Payment is by crossed Demand Draft on a nationalised bank or crossed Indian Postal Order, or electronically as the Commission arranges. The 2023 Table runs from nil up to rupees five lakh to Rs. 7500 above rupees ten crore. District and State Commissions credit the fee to the State Consumer Welfare Fund (or State Government account); the National Commission credits it to the Central Consumer Welfare Fund.
Rule 7(1): the fee and how to pay it
Rule 7(1) says each complaint "shall be accompanied by a fee, as specified in the table given below, in the form of crossed Demand Draft drawn on a nationalised bank or through a crossed Indian Postal Order in favour of the President of the District Commission or the Registrar of the State Commission or the Registrar of the National Commission, as the case may be, and payable at the respective place where the District Commission, State Commission or the National Commission is situated, or through electronic mode as per arrangement made by the Commission concerned".
The complaints covered are those under section 35(1) (the District Commission) and under the sub-clauses (i) and (ii) of clause (a) of section 47(1) (State Commission) and section 58(1) (National Commission). Our post on how a complaint is filed under section 35 explains the Act's side. "Nationalised bank" is defined in rule 2(1)(g); see rules 1 to 5.
The payee differs by Commission: the President of the District Commission, or the Registrar of the State Commission or of the National Commission. The instrument is payable at the place where the Commission is situated, unless the Commission has arranged electronic payment. The rule does not describe the electronic arrangement; the Commission concerned decides. Our existing post on filing a consumer complaint online gives a general overview.
The 2023 Table
The Table, as substituted by G.S.R. 606(E) of 17 August 2023, is as follows. The value is "paid as consideration".
| Sl. No. | Value of goods or services paid as consideration | Amount of fee payable |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | Up to Rupees Five Lakh | Nil |
| (2) | Above Rupees Five Lakh and up to Rupees Ten Lakh | Rs. 200 |
| (3) | Above Rupees Ten Lakh and up to Rupees Twenty Lakh | Rs. 400 |
| (4) | Above Rupees Twenty Lakh and up to Rupees Fifty Lakh | Rs. 1000 |
| (5) | Above Rupees Fifty Lakh and up to Rupees One Crore | Rs. 2000 |
| (6) | Above Rupees One Crore and up to Rupees Two Crore | Rs. 2500 |
| (7) | Above Rupees Two Crore and up to Rupees Four Crore | Rs. 3000 |
| (8) | Above Rupees Four Crore and up to Rupees Six Crore | Rs. 4000 |
| (9) | Above Rupees Six Crore and up to Rupees Eight Crore | Rs. 5000 |
| (10) | Above Rupees Eight Crore and up to Rupees Ten Crore | Rs. 6000 |
| (11) | Above Rupees Ten Crore | Rs. 7500 |
The 2023 Table drops the headings that earlier Tables carried and is the one to use; earlier Tables are replaced and are not set out here.
Which Commission hears the complaint is decided by the Jurisdiction Rules, 2021: up to fifty lakh rupees, District Commission; above fifty lakh up to two crore, State Commission; above two crore, National Commission. The fee row depends on the value in the Table. A complaint with consideration of, say, rupees thirty lakh falls in row (4) and goes to the District Commission.
Worked examples
Invented figures, using only the printed rows:
- Ishaan buys a laptop for rupees three lakh fifty thousand and files a complaint. The value is up to rupees five lakh: row (1), fee Nil. The District Commission has jurisdiction.
- Jaya pays rupees thirty lakh for a house renovation. The value is above twenty lakh and up to fifty lakh: row (4), fee Rs. 1000. District Commission.
- Kabir pays one crore twenty lakh rupees. The value is above one crore and up to two crore: row (6), fee Rs. 2500. The State Commission has jurisdiction.
- Lakshmi Traders pays three crore rupees. The value is above two crore and up to four crore: row (7), fee Rs. 3000. The National Commission has jurisdiction.
Remember that the fee is determined by the value paid as consideration, not by the relief claimed.
Rule 7(2): where the fee goes
Rule 7(2) says the District Commission or the State Commission "shall credit the amount of fee received by it under sub-rule (1) to the Consumer Welfare Fund of the State and where such Consumer Welfare Fund is not established, into the appropriate account of the State Government, and the National Commission shall credit such amount of fee received by it to the Consumer Welfare Fund of the Central Government". The fee is therefore not income of the Commission. For the Fund's definition see rule 2(1)(e). For tax rules on that Fund see our GST guides.
Two points on the amending notifications
- The 2023 amending notification records that the earlier amendment is G.S.R. 892(E) dated "21st December, 2022", while the notification itself is dated 20 December 2022. The date used here is the date of the notification.
- Both amendments say the Table is substituted "in sub-rule (2)", although it is sub-rule (1) that calls for the Table.
Related rules
The fee also appears in the complaint procedure before the National Commission: rule 12(2) says every complaint under rule 12(1) shall be accompanied by a fee as specified in rule 7. The Mediation Rules deal with refund of fee where parties are referred to mediation; see our article on the Mediation Rules, 2020. For a draft complaint see our consumer complaint draft template.
Need help with filing a consumer complaint?
If you want the fee, the instrument and the right Commission checked before you file, our consumer complaint filing team can help you prepare and file the complaint.
Key takeaways
- Every complaint must be accompanied by the fee in the Table, by crossed Demand Draft or crossed Indian Postal Order, or electronically as the Commission arranges.
- The 2023 Table runs from Nil (up to rupees five lakh) to Rs. 7500 (above rupees ten crore).
- The fee depends on the value of goods or services paid as consideration.
- District and State Commissions credit the fee to the State Consumer Welfare Fund or State Government account; the National Commission credits the Central Consumer Welfare Fund.
Read next
- Jurisdiction Rules, 2021: pecuniary limits
- Rule 12: complaints before the National Commission
- Section 35: how a complaint is filed
- Consumer Complaint Draft Template
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.