How to File a Consumer Court Case in India Online Through e-Jagriti (2026 Guide)

Your new phone died in week two and the seller has stopped replying. Or your insurer turned down a claim with a one-line email. Sound familiar?

Ten years ago, you'd have needed a free afternoon and a thick folder of photocopies. Now you can file consumer complaints online in India from your sofa, through a government portal called e-Jagriti.

Can You File a Consumer Complaint Online in India Without a Lawyer?

Yes, you can. Sign up on e-jagriti.gov.in, fill in your case details, upload your documents and pay the fee online if there is one.

You don't need a lawyer. And if the goods or services cost ₹5 lakh or less, filing is free.

What Is e-Jagriti, Exactly?

It's the Department of Consumer Affairs' portal for consumer disputes. It replaced e-Daakhil, CONFONET and a couple of older systems when it went live across India on 1 January 2025.

People are clearly using it. By July 2026, over 2.29 lakh cases had been filed on e-Jagriti, and more than 2.07 lakh had already been disposed of. That's roughly 90.75%.

Hearings can happen by video, too.

Before You File a Consumer Court Case

Before you file a consumer complaint online in India, check the clock. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, you usually get two years from the date things went wrong.

Next, gather your proof. Bills, warranty cards, screenshots of chats, emails, photos of the damage.

It's also smart to write to the seller first. A legal notice isn't compulsory, but plenty of disputes end right there.

You can also file where you live or work, not where the company sits.

Which Commission Will Hear Your Consumer Court Case?

This trips a lot of people up. The right commission depends on what you paid, not on how much compensation you're asking for.

File in the wrong place and your consumer court case could stall before it starts.

The e-Jagriti Consumer Complaint Filing Process, Step by Step

Here's how the e-Jagriti consumer complaint filing process works in practice:

1. Register on e-jagriti.gov.in as a complainant, using an OTP.
2. Log in, click "File New Case" and pick Consumer Complaint.
3. Add your own details, the opposite party's details and how much you paid.
4. Choose your commission using the table above.
5. Upload the complaint, your evidence and an affidavit if your commission asks for one.
6. Pay the fee, if any.
7. Submit, and note the reference number for tracking.

Once it's in, the commission decides whether to admit it. If it does, the other side gets a notice to respond.

How Much Will It Cost?

Not much, for most people. When you file consumer complaint online in India, the fee follows the value of what you bought:

• Up to ₹5 lakh: free
• ₹5-10 lakh: ₹200
• ₹10-20 lakh: ₹400
• ₹20-50 lakh: ₹1,000

The top fee is ₹7,500, for cases above ₹10 crore.

Your Complaint, Your Right: Take the First Step

Thanks to the e-Jagriti consumer complaint filing process, standing up to a bad seller isn't the ordeal it used to be. Most people can file consumer complaints online in India in a single sitting.

Still, how you word your complaint matters. If you'd like a hand with it, Juriven LLP offers legal information consultations, document drafting and online dispute resolution for consumer disputes.

Pull your papers together this week. The two-year clock is already ticking.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need a lawyer to file a consumer complaint?

No. The law lets you file and argue your own case, and lots of people file consumer complaints online in India without any legal help. For small disputes, you'll likely manage. A lawyer becomes worth considering when the amount is large or the company fights back hard.

2. How long does a consumer court case take?

On paper, the Act asks commissions to decide within three months, or five if a product needs lab testing. Real life is slower in some places. A consumer court case can stretch longer, depending on the commission's workload, though virtual hearings have helped cut delays.

3. Can I complain about an online shopping platform?

Absolutely. Both the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and the E-Commerce Rules, 2020, cover online sellers and marketplaces. Save your order ID, payment proof and every chat with customer support. And remember, you can file from your own city, wherever the company happens to be registered.

4. What documents should I keep ready?

Your written complaint, proof of purchase, ID and any messages exchanged with the seller. Photos help too. Going through the e-Jagriti consumer complaint filing process step by step makes uploading easier. Some commissions also want a signed affidavit, so check what yours needs first.

5. I live abroad. Can I still use e-Jagriti?

You can. NRIs register the same way, file online and join hearings by video. In 2025 alone, the Department of Consumer Affairs recorded complaints from NRIs in the US, UK, UAE and elsewhere. There's no need to fly back to India just for your case.