As per the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a consumer complaint can be filed within a period of two years from the date on which the cause of action arises.
The cause of action refers to the date on which the consumer suffers loss or damage due to defective goods, deficient services, unfair trade practices, or restrictive trade practices.
This time limit has been fixed to ensure that complaints are filed within a reasonable period so that evidence is available and disputes can be resolved efficiently.
However, the Consumer Commission may allow a complaint to be filed even after the expiry of two years if the complainant is able to show sufficient cause for the delay.
Thus, normally a consumer must file a complaint within two years from the date of cause of action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.