Consumer court case: cost and time it takes

Written and verified by the Grahak Mitra research team — an independent project documenting digital consumer self-help in India.

Last updated: 25 October 2026

A consumer-commission case — what people call "consumer court" — is built to be cheap and something you can do yourself. The filing fee is nominal and set by the rules: it goes by how much you paid for the goods or service, not by how much you claim, there is no fee if you paid ₹5 lakh or less, and you can represent yourself with no lawyer required. You file online through e-Jagriti (formerly e-Daakhil). On time, the law sets a target for how quickly a case should be decided — but be realistic: real-world cases can take longer than that target. This page is about the two things people most want to know before they file: what it costs, and how long it takes. Both are answered honestly — with the structure the rules set, and without inventing a rupee figure or a delay figure that isn't yours to promise.

If you haven't yet, the easier first step for many disputes is the National Consumer Helpline (1915), which mediates without a formal case. The commission route below is for when you need a binding order.

Cost and time at a glance

This table separates what is set by the rules (so it's dependable) from what can't be promised (so you shouldn't count on it). It is not a quote for your case — the exact current fee is on the official source, and the outcome is decided by the commission on the facts.

Does consumer court charge money?

Only if you paid more than ₹5 lakh: there is no filing fee when the goods or service you paid for cost ₹5 lakh or less, and above that the fee rises in steps from ₹200 to ₹7,500. The cost is kept low on purpose, because the whole point of the system is an affordable remedy. Two things keep it cheap:

• The filing fee is nominal and set by the rules. It is not a large sum, and it is not arbitrary — the fee goes by the value of the goods or services you paid for, not by the amount you are claiming. If you paid ₹5 lakh or less, there is no fee. Above that it rises in steps, from ₹200 (paid above ₹5 lakh, up to ₹10 lakh) to ₹7,500 (paid above ₹10 crore). So a dispute over, say, a ₹60,000 phone has no filing fee. These are the official amounts as of October 2026; the bands up to ₹2 crore are set out in our e-Jagriti walkthrough, and the full table is in the rules linked below. Because the table is set by rules and can change, check the fee the portal shows when you start your complaint.
• You can represent yourself — no lawyer is required. The forum is meant to be usable by an ordinary consumer in person, so you are not obliged to pay for legal representation. That's a right, not a promise that self-representation will win your case.

You file online on e-Jagriti (e-jagriti.gov.in) and pay the applicable fee through the portal — the portal shows the current fee for your case. Our step-by-step e-Jagriti walkthrough covers registering, adding the parties, writing the grievance, attaching evidence, paying the fee, and tracking it.

How much time does consumer court take?

No one can promise you a time: the Consumer Protection Act sets a statutory target for how quickly a case should be disposed of, but a real case can take longer than that target. That target is the pace the commission is meant to work toward. How much longer a real case takes depends on the commission's caseload, how the other side engages, and how complete your evidence is. So treat the statutory target as the intended pace, not a guaranteed finish date, and don't count on any specific timeline. The exact disposal target is in section 38(7) of the Consumer Protection Act — see the official source.

Two things you control that genuinely help: file with complete, clear evidence from the start, and respond promptly to anything the commission asks. A well-prepared complaint moves better than a thin one.

Do you need a lawyer?

No — you can represent yourself in a consumer commission, and the forum is designed for exactly that. That means legal fees are not a cost you have to bear. You may choose to engage a lawyer if your case is complex, but it is your choice, not a requirement. Representing yourself is a right the system gives you; it is not a guarantee that you will succeed — that still turns on the facts and the evidence.

Before you file

Know what you can ask for, and how to file:

• What you can seek — refund, replacement, or compensation under the Consumer Protection Act 2019.
• How to file — the e-Jagriti walkthrough, step by step.
• An easier first step — the National Consumer Helpline (1915), which mediates before you commit to a formal case.