Investigation Wing
Commencement. 24th July, 2020.-- S. 2 clauses (4), (13), (14), (16), (40), s. 10 to 27 (both inclusive), sub-clause (iv) of clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 58, s. 88, 89, 92 and 93, 94, 96, 97 and 99, clause (f) to (m) of sub-section 2 and clauses (zg), (zh) and (zi) of sub-section 2 of s. 101, 104, vide notification No. S.O. 2421(E), dated 23rd July 2020, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(ii).
Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 deals with investigation Wing. The Central Authority shall have an Investigation Wing headed by a Director-General for the purpose of conducting inquiry or investigation under this Act as may be directed by the Central Authority. The Act was enacted on 09 Aug 2019.
(1) The Central Authority shall have an Investigation Wing headed by a Director-General for the purpose of conducting inquiry or investigation under this Act as may be directed by the Central Authority.
(2) The Central Government may appoint a Director-General and such number of Additional Director-General, Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director and Assistant Director, from amongst persons who have experience in investigation and possess such qualifications, in such manner, as may be prescribed.
(3) Every Additional Director-General, Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director and Assistant Director shall exercise his powers, and discharge his functions, subject to the general control, supervision and direction of the Director-General.
(4) The Director-General may delegate all or any of his powers to the Additional Director-General or Director, Joint Director or Deputy Director or Assistant Director, as the case may be, while conducting inquiries or investigations under this Act.
(5) The inquiries or the investigations made by the Director-General shall be submitted to the Central Authority in such form, in such manner and within such time, as may be specified by regulations.
Section 15, The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 (Act 35 of 2019).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Ola Electric Mobility Limited v. Central Consumer Protection Authority
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Challenging an investigating officer's document demand in a Central Consumer Protection Authority probe, Ola Electric argued officer incompetence. The Karnataka High Court accepted the Union's reliance on a Central Government notification under s.10(2) (and s.15(2)) empowering designated officers to discharge CCPA / Investigation Wing functions, held the communication was within investigative power after a s.19 preliminary-enquiry prima facie finding, and disposed of the writ while granting six weeks to furnish documents. Reputation concerns were addressed by ASGI assurance against public investigation announcements.
On this section: s.15 Investigation Wing and delegation framework was the petitioner’s competence challenge; HC upholds investigation-wing action after CCPA prima facie satisfaction.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… consider as to whether the provision of sub-Section 2(a) of Section 13 granting a maximum period of 15 days in addition to 30 days has to be read as mandatory or not, we may also consider the other provisions of the Consumer Protection Act where the legislature intended to allow extension of period of limitation. Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act provides for filing of an appeal from the order of the District Forum to the State Commission within a period of 30 days. However, it leaves a discretion with the State Commission to entertain an appeal filed after the expiry of the said period of 30 days, if it is satisfied that there …
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… consider as to whether the provision of sub-Section 2(a) of Section 13 granting a maximum period of 15 days in addition to 30 days has to be read as mandatory or not, we may also consider the other provisions of the Consumer Protection Act where the legislature intended to allow extension of period of limitation. Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act provides for filing of an appeal from the order of the District Forum to the State Commission within a period of 30 days. However, it leaves a discretion with the State Commission to entertain an appeal filed after the expiry of the said period of 30 days, if it is satisfied that there …
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… consider as to whether the provision of sub-Section 2(a) of Section 13 granting a maximum period of 15 days in addition to 30 days has to be read as mandatory or not, we may also consider the other provisions of the Consumer Protection Act where the legislature intended to allow extension of period of limitation. Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act provides for filing of an appeal from the order of the District Forum to the State Commission within a period of 30 days. However, it leaves a discretion with the State Commission to entertain an appeal filed after the expiry of the said period of 30 days, if it is satisfied that there …
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 15
What have the courts held on Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act?
Ola Electric Mobility Limited v. Central Consumer Protection Authority (07 Jan 2025) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: s.15 Investigation Wing and delegation framework was the petitioner’s competence challenge; HC upholds investigation-wing action after CCPA prima facie satisfaction.
How do I find court cases under Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Consumer Protection Act 15, section 15 Consumer Protection Act, section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act. People searching for it also type consumer rights act 15 and consumer credit protection act 15 u.s.c. 1673. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Ola Electric Mobility Limited v. Central Consumer Protection Authority (07 Jan 2025).
What should I read with Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, and has it changed?
3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. 2 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently Lakshadweep Consumer Protection Rules, 1989 (1989), then The Tripura Consumer Protection Rules 1987 (1987).
When was Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act enacted?
Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, cited as Consumer Protection Act 15, was enacted on 09 Aug 2019 as Act 35 of 2019. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions3979 words
- 38. Procedure on admission of complaint1381 words
- 101. Power of Central Government to make rules916 words
- 39. Findings of District Commission553 words
- 102. Power of State Government to make rules517 words
- 47. Jurisdiction of State Commission493 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.