Power of Central Authority to refer matter for investigation or to other Regulator
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 19 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 deals with power of Central Authority to refer matter for investigation or to other Regulator. The Central Authority may, after receiving any information or complaint or directions from the Central Government or of its own motion, conduct or cause to be conducted a preliminary inquiry as to whether there exists a prima facie case of violation of consumer rights or any unfair trade practice or The Act was enacted on 09 Aug 2019.
(1) The Central Authority may, after receiving any information or complaint or directions from the Central Government or of its own motion, conduct or cause to be conducted a preliminary inquiry as to whether there exists a prima facie case of violation of consumer rights or any unfair trade practice or any false or misleading advertisement, by any person, which is prejudicial to the public interest or to the interests of consumers and if it is satisfied that there exists a prima facie case, it shall cause investigation to be made by the Director-General or by the District Collector.
(2) Where, after preliminary inquiry, the Central Authority is of the opinion that the matter is to be dealt with by a Regulator established under any other law for the time being in force, it may refer such matter to the concerned Regulator along with its report.
(3) For the purposes of investigation under sub-section (1), the Central Authority, the Director General or the District Collector may call upon a person referred to in sub-section (1) and also direct him to produce any document or record in his possession.
Section 19, 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.
Referred to by 1
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.19 was the operative power for preliminary inquiry → investigation referral; HC rejects the attack on the investigation notice as incompetent.
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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… Similarly, discretion for filing an appeal before the National Commission beyond the period of 30 days has also been provided under Section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act. Section 24A provides for the limitation period of 2 years for filing the complaint. However, subSection (2) of Section 24A gives a discretion to entertain a complaint even after the period of 2 years, if there is a satisfactory cause for not filing the complaint within such period, …
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… Similarly, discretion for filing an appeal before the National Commission beyond the period of 30 days has also been provided under Section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act. Section 24A provides for the limitation period of 2 years for filing the complaint. However, subSection (2) of Section 24A gives a discretion to entertain a complaint even after the period of 2 years, if there is a satisfactory cause for not filing the complaint within such period, …
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… Similarly, discretion for filing an appeal before the National Commission beyond the period of 30 days has also been provided under Section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act. Section 24A provides for the limitation period of 2 years for filing the complaint. However, subSection (2) of Section 24A gives a discretion to entertain a complaint even after the period of 2 years, if there is a satisfactory cause for not filing the complaint within such period, …
Questions about Section 19
What have the courts held on Section 19 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.19 was the operative power for preliminary inquiry → investigation referral; HC rejects the attack on the investigation notice as incompetent.
How do I find court cases under Section 19 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 19, section 19 Consumer Protection Act, section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act. 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 19 of the Consumer Protection Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.
When was Section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act enacted?
Section 19 of the Consumer Protection Act, cited as Consumer Protection Act 19, 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 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.