Sections 30-31 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.
Two short sections close the dispute machinery. Section 30 makes an order of the Appellate Tribunal executable as a decree of a civil court, either by the Tribunal itself or through a civil court it transmits the order to. Section 31 lets the Board, if it thinks a complaint can be resolved by mediation, direct the parties to attempt it with a mediator they agree on or one provided by law. For a dispute strategy across these routes, see our legal dispute resolution team.
Section 30(1): an order of the Appellate Tribunal is executable by it as a decree of a civil court, and for this it has all the powers of a civil court. Section 30(2): it may instead transmit the order to a civil court having local jurisdiction, which shall execute it as if it were its own decree. Section 31: if the Board thinks a complaint may be resolved by mediation, it may direct the parties to attempt mediation by a mediator mutually agreed or provided under any law in force in India.
At a glance
| Section | Who acts | Key content |
|---|---|---|
| 30(1) | Appellate Tribunal | Executes its own order as a decree; has all civil court powers for this |
| 30(2) | Tribunal and civil court | Tribunal may transmit its order to a civil court with local jurisdiction, which executes it as its own decree |
| 31 | Board | May direct parties to attempt mediation; mediator agreed by parties or as provided by law |
Section 30: execution of Tribunal orders
30(1) "An order passed by the Appellate Tribunal under this Act shall be executable by it as a decree of civil court, and for this purpose, the Appellate Tribunal shall have all the powers of a civil court."
30(2) "Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the Appellate Tribunal may transmit any order made by it to a civil court having local jurisdiction and such civil court shall execute the order as if it were a decree made by that court."
Points to note:
- Whose order? Section 30 speaks of orders "passed by the Appellate Tribunal". It does not itself say how a Board penalty that the Tribunal did not touch is recovered. The Act does not contain a recovery provision for Board orders in these sections, so confirm the route to recover a penalty imposed by the Board before assuming one.
- Two routes. The Tribunal may execute directly under 30(1) or transmit under 30(2). The choice is the Tribunal's ("may transmit"); the Act does not give a party a right to choose.
- Civil court powers. Execution uses civil court powers for enforcing decrees. The Act does not list them and the Code of Civil Procedure is not cited in section 30.
- Section 39 is different. It bars civil courts from entertaining suits on matters within the Board's power. Section 30(2) is not a door to re-argue the case; the civil court executes the Tribunal's order "as if it were a decree made by that court".
What this means for a party: a Tribunal order is not merely advisory. If you are ordered to do something or pay something and you do not, expect execution with the coercive tools available for decrees. If you have won, section 30 is how to enforce.
Section 31: mediation
"If the Board is of the opinion that any complaint may be resolved by mediation, it may direct the parties concerned to attempt resolution of the dispute through such mediation by such mediator as the parties may mutually agree upon, or as provided for under any law for the time being in force in India."
Break it down.
| Element | Text | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides | The Board, in its opinion | Parties do not have a right to mediation; the Board "may direct" |
| What | "any complaint" that "may be resolved by mediation" | The Act does not say which kinds of complaints suit mediation |
| Who mediates | A mediator mutually agreed by the parties, or as provided for under any law in force in India | The Act does not name a mediator or a panel |
| Duty | Parties "attempt resolution" | Attempt is required once directed; success is not |
What section 31 does not say:
- It does not say what happens to the inquiry during mediation, nor whether time stops running.
- It does not say whether a settlement ends the proceedings. Section 28(11) lets the Board close proceedings at the end of an inquiry, and section 32 separately deals with voluntary undertakings.
- It does not say whether a mediated result binds the Board or needs its approval.
- It does not make mediation confidential, although a law providing for the mediator may do so.
- It does not say who pays the mediator.
The section also does not stop a Data Principal and a fiduciary from settling on their own before the Board. It only gives the Board a power to direct an attempt.
Where these sections sit in the dispute path
- The Data Principal raises a grievance with the Data Fiduciary or Consent Manager (section 13).
- She may complain to the Board (sections 13(3), 27).
- The Board screens, inquires, may direct mediation (sections 28, 31), may accept an undertaking (section 32), may impose a penalty (section 33).
- Any aggrieved person appeals to the Appellate Tribunal within sixty days (section 29).
- The Tribunal's order is executed under section 30.
See section 29 and section 32.
Practical guidance
- Treat a mediation direction seriously. It is a direction of the Board, and section 27(2) says persons are bound to comply with directions.
- Come prepared. Bring the grievance log, the data involved and the decision-maker.
- Keep a record of the attempt: dates, participants, offers and outcome, to show the Board you complied.
- Think about the undertaking route. A voluntary undertaking under section 32 can follow a mediation, but nothing in the text links them.
- Plan for execution. If you are the respondent to a Tribunal order, plan compliance rather than waiting for execution.
Example
A user complains to the Board that a company did not erase her data. The Board forms the opinion that the dispute can be settled and directs mediation with a mediator both agree on. The parties attempt it and record the outcome. If they settle, they put it before the Board; the Act does not say what the Board does next, so the parties should ask for an order that records the outcome.
What the sections do not say
- No time limit for execution or mediation.
- No mediator qualifications.
- No link between mediation and penalty.
- No rule on enforcing a Board order that is not appealed.
Need help with disputes under the Act?
Mediation, undertakings and appeals all have a place in a Board matter and choosing the right one early saves time and cost. Our legal dispute resolution team can help you map the options and prepare for each stage.
Key takeaways
- Tribunal orders are executable as civil court decrees, directly or through a civil court.
- Section 30(2) allows transmission to a civil court with local jurisdiction.
- The Board may direct mediation; parties must attempt it.
- The mediator is agreed by the parties or provided under another law.
- The Act is silent on mediation's effect on the inquiry.
Read next
- Section 29 (6)-(10): tribunal procedure, disposal time and further appeal
- Section 32 of the DPDP Act, 2023: voluntary undertaking
- Section 13 of the DPDP Act, 2023: right of grievance redressal
- Sections 38 and 39: consistency with other laws and bar of civil court
Disclaimer: Based on the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (official text as enacted, No. 22 of 2023) as on 30 September 2026. The DPDP Rules, 2025 were notified in November 2025 and different provisions commence on different dates; this article does not state rule-level detail. Verify the current position in the Rules and the commencement notifications before acting.