Is pecuniary jurisdiction based on the purchase amount or total compensation claimed?

Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, pecuniary jurisdiction is determined strictly by the actual consideration paid for the goods or services, not by the damages or mental agony compensation claimed by the consumer.

Consumer Forum Jurisdiction Finder – District, State or National

Q: What is the pecuniary jurisdiction limit of the District Consumer Commission?

Under the Consumer Protection Rules, 2021 (notified on 30 December 2021), the District Commission has pecuniary jurisdiction over complaints where the value of goods or services paid as consideration does not exceed ₹50 Lakhs.

Q: Is filing a consumer complaint free for small claims?

Yes — under the Consumer Protection (Consumer Commission Procedure) Regulations, complaints where the consideration paid is up to ₹5 Lakhs attract NIL (zero) court fee.

Claim Consideration & Location

Total Consideration Amount Paid (in ₹)

Enter the actual amount paid for goods/services. Do not include compensation claimed.

Nature of Consumer Dispute

Preferred Filing Method

Competent Commission Forum

Awaiting Valuation

Competent Consumer Forum	District Commission (DCDRC)
Pecuniary Jurisdiction Range	Up to ₹50,00,000
Statutory Court Filing Fee	NIL (Zero Fee)
Statutory Limitation Deadline	2 Years from Cause of Action
Recommended Next Step	Draft Petition for District Forum

Under the Consumer Protection Rules, 2021 (notified on 30.12.2021), pecuniary limits are based strictly on consideration paid. Claims up to ₹5 Lakhs attract zero court fee before the District Commission.

Pecuniary Jurisdiction Hierarchy (Post-2021 Amendment)

District Commission (DCDRC): Hears complaints where the total consideration paid does not exceed ₹50 Lakhs.
State Commission (SCDRC): Hears original complaints where consideration paid exceeds ₹50 Lakhs but does not exceed ₹2 Crores, as well as appeals from District Commissions.
National Commission (NCDRC): Hears original complaints where consideration paid exceeds ₹2 Crores, as well as appeals from State Commissions.
Territorial Liberty for Consumers: Under Section 34 of the CPA, 2019, consumers can file where they currently reside or work, rather than having to travel to the corporate seller's headquarters.

Frequently Asked Questions About Consumer Jurisdiction

What is the pecuniary jurisdiction limit of the District Consumer Commission?

Under the December 2021 revised statutory rules, District Commissions hear complaints where the consideration paid is up to ₹50 Lakhs.

Is filing a consumer complaint free for small claims?

Yes — claims with consideration up to ₹5 Lakhs attract NIL (zero) fee before the District Commission under the Consumer Protection Rules, 2020.

Is jurisdiction determined by purchase price or compensation demanded?

Strictly by the purchase consideration paid, preventing complainants from artificially inflating compensation claims to jump to higher commissions.

Consumer Forum Jurisdiction & Fee Finder