Current legal position
The filing fee is determined by the value of the goods or services paid as consideration. Rule 7(2) was amended in 2022 and the fee table was substituted again by the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) (Amendment) Rules, 2023. The 2023 table prescribes the same graded fee amounts shown below, but without dividing the fee table itself into separate District, State and National headings.
The forum in which a complaint is filed is determined separately by the Consumer Protection (Jurisdiction of the District Commission, the State Commission and the National Commission) Rules, 2021.
Which Consumer Commission has jurisdiction?
These limits are based on the value of goods or services paid as consideration, subject to the other provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Consumer complaint filing fee table
The following filing fees apply under Rule 7(2), as substituted by the 2023 amendment:
| Sl. No. | Value of goods or services paid as consideration | Fee payable | Commission having current pecuniary jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Up to ₹5 lakh | Nil | District |
| 2 | Above ₹5 lakh and up to ₹10 lakh | ₹200 | District |
| 3 | Above ₹10 lakh and up to ₹20 lakh | ₹400 | District |
| 4 | Above ₹20 lakh and up to ₹50 lakh | ₹1,000 | District |
| 5 | Above ₹50 lakh and up to ₹1 crore | ₹2,000 | State |
| 6 | Above ₹1 crore and up to ₹2 crore | ₹2,500 | State |
| 7 | Above ₹2 crore and up to ₹4 crore | ₹3,000 | National |
| 8 | Above ₹4 crore and up to ₹6 crore | ₹4,000 | National |
| 9 | Above ₹6 crore and up to ₹8 crore | ₹5,000 | National |
| 10 | Above ₹8 crore and up to ₹10 crore | ₹6,000 | National |
| 11 | Above ₹10 crore | ₹7,500 | National |
Important points before filing
- The fee slab is linked to the consideration actually paid for the goods or services, not merely to the compensation or other relief claimed.
- For consideration up to ₹5 lakh, the prescribed complaint filing fee is Nil.
- The District, State and National Commission jurisdiction limits are governed by the 2021 Jurisdiction Rules and should be checked separately from the fee table.
- Online consumer case filing and case-management services are now provided through the Government's e-Jagriti platform.
- The National Consumer Helpline is a pre-litigation grievance-redressal channel; filing a grievance there is not the same as instituting a consumer complaint before a Consumer Commission.
Frequently asked questions
Is the complaint fee still based on the 20 December 2022 amendment?
The 2022 amendment introduced the graded fee structure, but Rule 7(2) was substituted again by the 2023 amendment. For an up-to-date page, the current table should therefore be cited through the 2023 amendment.
Is a complaint up to ₹5 lakh free to file?
Yes. The prescribed filing fee is Nil where the value of goods or services paid as consideration is up to ₹5 lakh.
Where should a ₹75 lakh consumer complaint be filed?
Where ₹75 lakh is the value of goods or services paid as consideration, the matter falls within the State Commission's current pecuniary jurisdiction. The corresponding filing fee slab is ₹2,000.
Where should a complaint above ₹2 crore be filed?
Under the 2021 Jurisdiction Rules, complaints where the value of goods or services paid as consideration exceeds ₹2 crore fall within the pecuniary jurisdiction of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, subject to the other provisions of the Act.