Consumer court in Bengaluru: filing online and what to expect

A consumer complaint is a case you file against a seller, builder, bank, insurer, hospital or service provider who took your money and did not deliver what was promised. In Bengaluru it goes to a District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (ಜಿಲ್ಲಾ ಗ್ರಾಹಕರ ಆಯೋಗ), which most people still call the consumer court or consumer forum. Since 2025 you can file it online on the e-Jagriti portal.

You do not need a lawyer to file. The fee is nil if you paid ₹5 lakh or less. You have two years from the date the problem arose. Most complaints that fail, fail because the papers are thin, the wrong party is named, or the complaint asks for a figure with no basis.

Print the emails and chat messages where you complained to the company. They show the commission you gave them a chance.

First try the company, then the 1915 helpline

Before you file, write to the company. Send a clear complaint by email to its grievance officer, keep the ticket number, and give it a reasonable time to reply. Many disputes end here.

If the company does not respond, register a grievance with the National Consumer Helpline by calling 1915 or on consumerhelpline.gov.in. The helpline forwards your grievance to the company and tracks it. It cannot order anyone to pay, but companies that ignore a direct email often respond to a helpline docket. Karnataka’s State Commission also lists a state consumer helpline, 1800-425-9339.

For larger amounts, or where the company has already refused in writing, a lawyer’s notice is the next step. It sets out your claim and gives a date to pay. See our note on sending a legal notice in Bengaluru.

Which commission hears your consumer complaint

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 sets up three levels. Since the Jurisdiction Rules notified on 30 December 2021, the level depends on what you paid for the goods or service, not on how much compensation you want.

So a complaint about a ₹40,000 phone stays in the District Commission even if you ask for ₹5 lakh in compensation. For an insurance dispute, what you paid is the premium, which is why most insurance complaints are heard at district level. The Supreme Court upheld this rule in 2025.

You can file where the company carries on business or has a branch, where the cause of action arose, or where you live or work. For most people in Bengaluru city, that means a Bengaluru Urban district commission. The Karnataka Government has set up additional district commissions in Bengaluru Urban to share the load, and e-Jagriti lets you pick the commission when you file.

Where the commissions sit: Basava Bhavan and the district benches

When people search for “Basava Bhavan consumer court”, they usually mean the Karnataka State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಗ್ರಾಹಕರ ವ್ಯಾಜ್ಯಗಳ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಆಯೋಗ). It sits in Basava Bhavan, at Sri Basaveshwara Circle near High Grounds. It hears complaints in the ₹50 lakh to ₹2 crore band and appeals from district commissions across the state. It also has permanent circuit benches at Kalaburagi and Belagavi.

The Bengaluru Urban district commissions do not all sit in one building. The principal commission and the additional ones are in different offices. Check the address of your commission on the notice or on the KSCDRC website (kscdrc.karnataka.gov.in) before you travel, because people do go to the wrong building.

Filing online on e-Jagriti

The Department of Consumer Affairs launched e-Jagriti on 1 January 2025. It merged the older e-Daakhil filing portal and the case management systems into one site. Filing in the State Commission is online only, and online filing is the simplest route for district commissions too.

What you do on e-Jagriti:

1. Register with your mobile number and email
2. Choose the commission and fill in the parties, the facts and the relief you want
3. Upload the complaint, an affidavit, your documents and an index
4. Pay the fee online, if any
5. Note the filing number and watch for the date of admission

Upload clear scans. A blurred invoice or a missing page is a common reason for the registry to return a complaint.

Fees for a consumer complaint

The fee depends on what you paid for the goods or service. These are the figures in the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Rules, 2020, as amended in August 2023:

Higher bands apply at the National Commission. If you engage a lawyer, the professional fee is separate. Our page on lawyer fees in Bengaluru explains how that is usually worked out.

The two-year limit

Section 69 of the Act says a complaint must be filed within two years from the date on which the cause of action arose. That is usually the date of the defect, the refusal, or the last date by which the company should have delivered.

If you are late, you can file an application for condonation of delay with reasons. The commission may accept it if the reason is genuine, but it is not automatic. Do not wait for the company’s fifth promise.

What happens after you file

• Admission. The commission looks at whether the complaint is in order and within its powers. Under the Act it should decide on admission within 21 days.
• Notice to the opposite party. The company gets a copy and has 30 days to file its written version. The commission can allow 15 more days. The Supreme Court has held that it cannot give more time than that.
• Mediation. If both sides agree, the commission can send the case to its mediation cell.
• Evidence and arguments. Both sides file affidavits and documents, then argue. Most consumer cases are decided on papers and affidavits, without a long trial.
• Order. The commission can order a refund, replacement, repair, compensation and costs.

The Act says complaints should be decided within three months, or five months if goods need lab testing. In practice, Bengaluru commissions are busy and cases often take longer. Track your matter on e-Jagriti, and see our guide to consumer court case status for what each stage means.

Appeals

If you lose at the District Commission, you can appeal to the State Commission within 45 days of the order. A company that appeals against an order to pay must first deposit 50% of the amount ordered. That deposit rule is one reason many companies settle after losing at district level.

Questions people ask

Can I file a consumer complaint without a lawyer?

Yes. The Act allows you to file and argue your own case, and e-Jagriti is built for that. A lawyer helps most when the amount is large, the company has a strong defence, or the facts need careful drafting.

What is the time limit to file a consumer complaint?

Two years from the date the cause of action arose. A later complaint needs an application explaining the delay, and the commission decides whether to accept it.

How much is the fee for a consumer complaint in Bengaluru?

Nil if you paid ₹5 lakh or less for the goods or service. Above that, it rises in bands, from ₹200 up to ₹1,000 for amounts up to ₹50 lakh.

Is Basava Bhavan the consumer court for Bengaluru?

Basava Bhavan houses the Karnataka State Consumer Commission, which hears bigger complaints and appeals. Most individual complaints from Bengaluru go to a Bengaluru Urban district commission, which sits elsewhere.

How do I check my consumer case status?

Log in to e-Jagriti, or search by case number on it. The KSCDRC website also links to case status and cause lists.

This article is general information about the law as it stood when it was written. Your facts change the answer. Speak to an advocate before you act on it.