Sections 103 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.
Sections 103 and 104 give two bodies power to make regulations: the National Commission (section 103) and the Central Authority (section 104), each with the previous approval of the Central Government. Section 105 requires every rule and every regulation to be laid before Parliament, and State rules before the State Legislature. These regulations are where adjournment costs, mediator empanelment and mediation timelines come from. The regulations are not in the text of the Act; this article summarises the heads of power only. For a question on which regulation governs your matter, our legal consultation team can help you look it up.
Section 103: the National Commission may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, by notification, make regulations not inconsistent with the Act to provide for all matters necessary or expedient to give effect to it, including costs for adjournment, mediation cell records and reports, mediator empanelment, disclosures and the time and manner of mediation. Section 104: the Central Authority may make regulations on the same terms, including experts and professionals, transaction and allocation of business and the form, manner and time of Director General inquiries. Section 105: every rule and regulation is laid before each House of Parliament for a total of thirty days; State rules go before the State Legislature.
The three sections at a glance
| Section | Who | Subject | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | National Commission | Regulations on listed and other matters | Previous approval of the Central Government; by notification; not inconsistent with the Act |
| 104 | Central Authority | Regulations on listed and other matters | Previous approval of the Central Government; by notification; not inconsistent with the Act |
| 105 | Parliament and State Legislature | Laying of rules and regulations | Thirty days for Central rules and regulations; State rules laid as soon as may be |
Section 103(1): the general power
"The National Commission may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, by notification, make regulations not inconsistent with this Act to provide for all matters for which provision is necessary or expedient for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act."
Three features: a previous approval (before the regulations are made), a notification, and a limit that regulations must be not inconsistent with the Act. The power is wide ("all matters ... necessary or expedient") but is bounded by the Act itself.
Section 103(2): the heads
| Clause | Head | Refers to |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Costs for adjournment to be imposed by the District Commission | Second proviso to section 38(7) |
| (b) | Costs for adjournment to be imposed by the State Commission or the National Commission | Second proviso to section 52 |
| (c) | The maintenance of any other information by the consumer mediation cell | Section 74(4) |
| (d) | The manner of submission of the quarterly report by the cell to its Commission | Section 74(5) |
| (e) | Mediator empanelment: qualifications and experience, procedure, training, fee, terms and conditions, code of conduct, removal or cancellation | Section 75(2) |
| (f) | Conditions for re-empanelment for another term | Section 75(3) |
| (g) | Other facts to be disclosed by mediators | Section 77(c) |
| (h) | The time within which, and the manner in which, mediation may be conducted | Section 79(3) |
| (i) | Such other matter for which provision is to be, or may be, made by regulation | Catch-all |
Notice what this means in practice. Whenever the mediation sections say "as may be specified by regulations", the regulations are those of the National Commission under section 103. See sections 75–78 on mediators and sections 79–81 on mediation procedure. The costs for adjournments are also set by regulations, not by the Act. This article states no figure, rule number or form.
Section 104(1) and (2): the Central Authority's regulations
"The Central Authority may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, by notification, make regulations not inconsistent with this Act, for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of this Act."
| Clause | Head | Refers to |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | The procedure for engaging experts and professionals and the number of such experts and professionals | Section 13(3) |
| (b) | The procedure for transaction of business and the allocation of business of the Chief Commissioner and Commissioner | Section 14(1) |
| (c) | The form, manner and time within which inquiries or investigation by the Director-General shall be submitted to the Central Authority | Section 15(5) |
| (d) | Such other matter for which provision is to be, or may be, made by regulation | Catch-all |
For the Authority itself, see our guide to the Central Consumer Protection Authority. The Authority's regulations are separate from the Central Government's rules under section 101 and from the National Commission's regulations under section 103.
Section 105: laying before Parliament and the State Legislature
105(1): Parliament
"Every rule and every regulation made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or regulation or both Houses agree that the rule or regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or regulation."
| Step | Text |
|---|---|
| Laying | As soon as may be after it is made, before each House, while in session |
| Period | A total of thirty days, in one session or in two or more successive sessions |
| Outcome | Both Houses may agree to a modification, or that it has effect only in modified form or no effect |
| Effect on past acts | The modification or annulment is without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done |
Two points. The text does not make the rule or regulation wait for the laying to take effect; the laying gives Parliament a chance to modify or annul it. And an annulment does not undo what was done under it earlier.
105(2): State rules
"Every rule made by a State Government under this Act shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before the State Legislature." Unlike 105(1), this sub-section prints no period of days and no outcome. The text is silent on both.
Example. The National Commission, with the Central Government's previous approval, notifies regulations on the time within which mediation is to be conducted (section 79(3)). They are laid before both Houses for a total of thirty days. If both Houses agree to modify them, the modified regulation applies from then on, and mediation already conducted under the original is not made invalid.
What the text leaves out
- It does not say how long the Central Government may take to approve regulations.
- It does not say what "as soon as may be" means in days.
- It does not give a Commission power to make regulations other than the National Commission; the District and State Commissions have none under these sections.
- It does not say how a regulation may be challenged once made.
Need help finding the regulation that applies?
Whether you need the mediator fee, the adjournment costs or the time for a mediation, the answer is in a regulation that may have been amended. Our team can help you identify the current text and apply it to your case. Reach out through a legal consultation and name the section of the Act you are working from.
Key takeaways
- The National Commission makes regulations under section 103 with the Central Government's previous approval, on costs for adjournment, mediation cells, mediators and mediation time.
- The Central Authority makes regulations under section 104 on experts, business of Commissioners and Director General inquiries.
- Both must be by notification and not inconsistent with the Act.
- Every rule and regulation is laid before each House of Parliament for a total of thirty days.
- State rules are laid before the State Legislature.
Read next
- Section 102: the State Governments' power to make rules
- Section 106: removal of difficulties
- Section 74: consumer mediation cell
- Section 101: the Central Government's power to make rules
Disclaimer: Based on the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 as enacted, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Monetary limits, fees and procedure are set or revised by rules and regulations made under the Act and should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.