Sections 67 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 67 gives a person aggrieved by certain orders of the National Commission a right to appeal to the Supreme Court within thirty days, with a deposit of fifty per cent for a person ordered to pay. Section 68 says every order of a District, State or National Commission becomes final if no appeal is preferred under the Act. This is the last step in the ladder, and the thirty days and the deposit are where parties most often go wrong. Our legal dispute resolution team can count the dates from your order and check the deposit.
A person aggrieved by an order of the National Commission made in its powers under sub-clause (i) or (ii) of clause (a) of section 58(1) may appeal to the Supreme Court within thirty days from the date of the order (s.67). The Supreme Court may entertain a late appeal for sufficient cause. A person who must pay under the order must deposit fifty per cent of that amount, in the manner prescribed, before the appeal is entertained. Under section 68 an order is final if no appeal has been preferred under the Act.
Sections 67 and 68 at a glance
| Provision | Subject | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| 67 (main part) | Right of appeal | Against National Commission orders under s.58(1)(a)(i) or (ii); to the Supreme Court; thirty days from the date of the order |
| 67 first proviso | Late appeal | Supreme Court may entertain after thirty days for sufficient cause |
| 67 second proviso | Pre-deposit | Fifty per cent of the amount payable under the order, in the manner prescribed |
| 68 | Finality | Order is final if no appeal is preferred under the Act |
Which orders can be appealed to the Supreme Court
Section 67 does not allow an appeal against every order of the National Commission. It covers "an order made by the National Commission in exercise of its powers conferred by sub-clause (i) or (ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 58". Section 58(1)(a), as enacted, gives the National Commission jurisdiction to entertain:
| Item | Subject |
|---|---|
| (i) | Complaints where the value of the goods or services paid as consideration exceeds rupees ten crore (the Central Government may prescribe another value) |
| (ii) | Complaints against unfair contracts, where the value of goods or services paid as consideration exceeds ten crore rupees |
| (iii) | Appeals against the orders of any State Commission |
| (iv) | Appeals against the orders of the Central Authority |
Read together, section 67 is the appeal route for orders passed in the National Commission's original jurisdiction under (i) and (ii). The money figure is quoted as enacted. The Central Government has power to prescribe other values by rules, so the limit currently in force should be checked in the rules; this article states no revised figure. See section 58 on the jurisdiction of the National Commission.
The sub-clauses (iii) and (iv) are not mentioned in section 67. This article does not say that an appeal to the Supreme Court is available against an order the National Commission makes in appeal from a State Commission or the Central Authority. The section is silent on it, and section 68 says orders are final where no appeal is preferred "under the provisions of this Act".
Section 67: thirty days from the date of the order
"Any person, aggrieved by an order ... may prefer an appeal against such order to the Supreme Court within a period of thirty days from the date of the order."
- "Any person aggrieved". The appellant need not be a party named in the title, though in practice it will usually be a party.
- The clock runs from "the date of the order". It does not say "from the date of receipt of a copy". That is different from some appeal provisions in other Acts, so count from the order date and not from the day the copy reaches you.
- Late appeals. The first proviso: "the Supreme Court may entertain an appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing it within that period." The Act does not define "sufficient cause" and gives no outer limit.
The second proviso: fifty per cent deposit
"Provided further that no appeal by a person who is required to pay any amount in terms of an order of the National Commission shall be entertained by the Supreme Court unless that person has deposited fifty per cent. of that amount in the manner as may be prescribed."
| Question | Answer from the text |
|---|---|
| Who must deposit | A person who is required to pay any amount under the National Commission's order |
| How much | Fifty per cent of that amount |
| How | In the manner as may be prescribed |
| Consequence of not depositing | The Supreme Court shall not entertain the appeal |
| Does a complainant who is awarded money deposit? | No; the proviso applies to a person required to pay |
The rules fix the manner of the deposit; section 101(2)(zd) lists "the manner of depositing fifty per cent. of the amount under the second proviso to section 67" among the rule-making heads. This article names no rule number, account or procedure. Two things the text does not say: whether the fifty per cent includes costs or interest awarded, and whether the Supreme Court can relax the condition. The words "shall be entertained" put the deposit as a condition for hearing the appeal at all.
Example. The National Commission orders Sunrise Builders Ltd, in a complaint within its original jurisdiction, to pay Rs 20 crore to a group of buyers. Sunrise wishes to appeal. It must file within thirty days from the date of the order, and before the Supreme Court entertains the appeal it must deposit fifty per cent, Rs 10 crore, in the manner prescribed. If a buyer wants more compensation, no deposit is needed, because the proviso applies only to a person required to pay.
Section 68: finality of orders
"Every order of a District Commission or the State Commission or the National Commission, as the case may be, shall, if no appeal has been preferred against such order under the provisions of this Act, be final."
- It applies to all three levels. For the appeal ladder below the National Commission, read sections 40–41 on the District Commission and section 51 on appeal to the National Commission.
- Finality turns on whether an appeal "has been preferred". The text does not say the order becomes final on a particular date, nor what happens during the time within which an appeal can be made.
- Finality under section 68 is about the order itself. Enforcement of orders is in section 71, and punishment for not complying with an order is in section 72; see section 71 on enforcement.
- The section does not mention review under section 60. The text does not say whether an order that has been reviewed is final.
What the text leaves out
- No form, court fee or procedure for the Supreme Court appeal is stated; the Act leaves such matters to the rules and the Supreme Court's own procedure.
- No stay of the order during the appeal is mentioned.
- Section 67 does not say that an appeal to the Supreme Court is possible in cases outside the two sub-clauses; silence is not the same as permission.
Need help with a Supreme Court appeal?
The thirty days run from the date of the order, and the deposit has to be made in the prescribed manner before the appeal can be heard. Our team can check the order, count the dates and prepare the papers. Begin with a legal dispute resolution consultation and bring the full order and proof of any deposit.
Key takeaways
- Section 67 allows an appeal to the Supreme Court against National Commission orders under s.58(1)(a)(i) or (ii).
- Thirty days run from the date of the order; late appeals need sufficient cause.
- A person ordered to pay must deposit fifty per cent of the amount in the manner prescribed.
- Section 68: an order is final if no appeal is preferred under the Act.
- Orders under s.58(1)(a)(iii) and (iv) are not mentioned in section 67.
Read next
- Section 66: experts to assist the Commissions
- Section 69: limitation period for complaints
- Section 71: enforcement of Commission orders
- Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission: District, State and National Level Guide
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.