Consumer Protection Act Section 51 — Appeal to National Commission
CHAPTER IV CONSUMER DISPUTER REDRESSAL COMMISSION
Civil
Summary
Sub-section (1) allows any person who is unhappy with an order made by the State Commission under specific powers mentioned in section 47 to appeal against that order to the National Commission. This appeal must be filed within thirty days from the date of the order, and it must be done in the form and manner that are prescribed. The National Commission will not accept an appeal after those thirty days have passed unless it is satisfied that there was a good reason for not filing it on time. Additionally, if the person appealing is required to pay any amount under the State Commission's order, the National Commission will not hear the appeal unless that person has deposited fifty per cent of that amount in the prescribed manner.
Sub-section (2) states that, unless this Act or any other current law says otherwise, an appeal can be made to the National Commission from any order passed in appeal by a State Commission, but only if the National Commission is satisfied that the case involves a substantial question of law.
Sub-section (3) requires that, in an appeal involving a question of law, the memorandum of appeal must clearly state the substantial question of law that is involved in the appeal.
Sub-section (4) says that when the National Commission is satisfied that a substantial question of law is involved in a case, it must formulate that question and hear the appeal only on that question. However, this does not stop the National Commission from hearing the appeal on any other substantial question of law, provided it records reasons in writing and is satisfied that the case involves such a question.
Sub-section (5) provides that an appeal may be made to the National Commission under this section from an order that was passed ex parte by the State Commission, meaning an order made without the presence of one of the parties.
Official Text
(1) Any person aggrieved by an order made by the State Commission in exercise of its powers conferred by sub-clause (i) or
(ii) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 47 may prefer an appeal against such order to the National Commission within a period of thirty days from the date of the order in such form and manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that the National Commission shall not entertain the appeal after the expiry of the said period of thirty days unless it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing it within that period:
Provided further that no appeal by a person, who is required to pay any amount in terms of an order of the State Commission, shall be entertained by the National Commission unless the appellant has deposited fifty per cent. of that amount in the manner as may be prescribed.
(2) Save as otherwise expressly provided under this Act or by any other law for the time being in force, an appeal shall lie to the National Commission from any order passed in appeal by any State Commission, if the National Commission is satisfied that the case involves a substantial question of law.
(3) In an appeal involving a question of law, the memorandum of appeal shall precisely state the substantial question of law involved in the appeal.
(4) Where the National Commission is satisfied that a substantial question of law is involved in any case, it shall formulate that question and hear the appeal on that question:
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall be deemed to take away or abridge the power of the National Commission to hear, for reasons to be recorded in writing, the appeal on any other substantial question of law, if it is satisfied that the case involves such question of law.
(5) An appeal may lie to the National Commission under this section from an order passed ex parte by the State Commission.