Appeal Against 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.
Section 23 lets the Central Government designate another statutory authority or body to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Central Consumer Protection Authority. Section 24 gives a person aggrieved by an Authority order under section 20 (recall and refund) or section 21 (misleading advertisements) the right to appeal to the National Commission within thirty days of receiving the order. A person who has received such an order should count the days at once; a legal dispute resolution team can prepare the appeal.
The Central Government may, if it considers necessary, by notification, designate any statutory authority or body to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Central Authority referred to in section 10 (23). A person aggrieved by any order of the Central Authority under sections 20 and 21 may file an appeal to the National Commission within thirty days from the date of receipt of the order (24).
Sections 23 and 24 at a glance
| Section | Subject | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Designation | Central Government may designate any statutory authority or body to act as the Central Authority |
| 24 | Appeal | Against orders under sections 20 and 21; to the National Commission; within thirty days from receipt |
Section 23: designating another body
"The Central Government may, if it considers necessary, by notification, designate any statutory authority or body to exercise the powers and perform the functions of the Central Authority referred to in section 10."
Reading the sentence closely:
- "May, if it considers necessary". The power is discretionary. The text sets no test beyond the Central Government's own view of necessity.
- "By notification". The designation must be in a notification (defined in section 2(30) as a notification published in the Official Gazette). See our article on the definitions.
- "Any statutory authority or body". The class is wide. The text does not name an example, and this article names none.
- "The powers and the functions of the Central Authority referred to in section 10". The designated body steps into the Authority's role.
Several questions the text does not answer: whether the designated body replaces the Central Authority altogether or only in part, whether it can act alongside the Authority, what happens to the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners, and where an appeal from the designated body goes. Section 24 speaks of "any order passed by the Central Authority", so the text does not say expressly whether an order passed by a designated body is appealable in the same way. Readers affected should read the notification itself.
Example. Suppose the Central Government notifies that a particular statutory body shall exercise the Central Authority's powers and functions. An advertiser then receives a direction from that body. Whether the thirty-day appeal under section 24 applies to it would turn on the notification and on how the designated body's orders are treated in law; the Act does not settle it in terms.
Section 24: appeal to the National Commission
"A person aggrieved by any order passed by the Central Authority under sections 20 and 21 may file an appeal to the National Commission within a period of thirty days from the date of receipt of such order."
| Element | What the text says |
|---|---|
| Who may appeal | "A person aggrieved" |
| Against what | Any order passed by the Central Authority under section 20 or section 21 |
| To whom | The National Commission |
| Time limit | Thirty days from the date of receipt of the order |
Important points:
- Which orders. Only orders under sections 20 and 21: recall, withdrawal, reimbursement, discontinuation (section 20); directions, penalties and endorser bans for misleading advertisements (section 21). See our article on section 20 and our article on section 21. Section 24 does not mention other kinds of Authority decisions such as a safety notice or a referral to a Regulator.
- Who is "a person aggrieved". The words are not limited to the person against whom the order was made. A person affected by the order may qualify, but the Act does not define "aggrieved".
- The clock runs from receipt, not from the date of the order. If you receive the order later than the date it bears, count from receipt, and keep proof of the date.
- Thirty days, with no stated power to extend. Unlike some appeals in the Act, section 24 has no proviso allowing late appeals for sufficient cause. For comparison, the appeal from a District Commission order, in section 41, is dealt with in a separate article; see our article on sections 40-41. The silence of section 24 on condonation is a point to raise with a lawyer rather than assume.
- Form, fee and procedure are not in section 24. They are for rules and regulations, and this article names none.
The text does not say whether filing an appeal stops the order from taking effect. It also does not say what the National Commission may do on appeal: confirm, set aside or modify. The National Commission's general powers are in later sections; see our article on section 58 for its jurisdiction.
A simple timeline
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Order under section 20 or 21 received by the person |
| Day 1-30 | Appeal may be filed with the National Commission |
| After day 30 | Section 24 gives no express power to accept a late appeal |
Example. A manufacturer receives an order under section 21 imposing a penalty on 5 January. Counting thirty days from receipt, the appeal period ends in early February. The manufacturer should file well before that date, with the order and proof of receipt.
Why the two sections sit together
Section 23 deals with who acts as the Authority; section 24 deals with what happens after the Authority has acted. Between them, they complete Chapter III's scheme: the Authority is established (section 10), staffed (11 to 15), given powers (18 to 22), may be replaced by a designated body (23) and its orders are open to appeal (24). The finances and reports follow in sections 25 to 27; see our article on sections 25-27.
Need help with an appeal?
An appeal must be filed within thirty days of receipt, in the form the rules require. Our team can read the Authority's order, prepare the grounds and check the dates. Contact us for legal dispute resolution support, and bring the order, the envelope or email showing the date of receipt, and your replies in the inquiry.
Key takeaways
- The Central Government may designate any statutory authority or body to exercise the Central Authority's powers and functions, by notification (23).
- Appeal lies to the National Commission against orders of the Central Authority under sections 20 and 21 (24).
- The period is thirty days from the date of receipt of the order.
- Section 24 has no proviso on late appeals; the text is silent on condonation and stay.
Read next
- Section 21: false or misleading advertisements and penalties
- Sections 25-27: CCPA grants, accounts, audit and annual report
- Section 58: jurisdiction of the National Commission
- Penalties Under Consumer Protection Act 2019
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.