Edaakhil online or offline?

Dear Ravi,

After reviewing your query, I understand your concern about submitting applications through online portals like E-Daakhil. Allow me to offer some advice that might help you out.

Let me first give you some basic knowledge of the E-Daakhil portals. These are launched under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 to help consumers file consumer complaints from the comfort of their homes. This portal facilitates the filing of consumer complaints at the district, state, or even national level.

Section 35 of the Consumer Protection Act, of 2019 provides the fact that consumer complaints can be filed digitally. The guidelines and rules mentioned under the provisions of the Consumer Protection (E-Filing and Fee for Filing) Rules, 2020, tend to allow the users to submit all the relevant documents like applications, and supporting documents like payment receipts. And when a complainant has filed a complaint, physical submission of the same is not required, if it has been acknowledged on the portal itself.

However, some cases still require physical copies of the documents for the purpose of serving notices to the other party or just for the sake of the maintenance of the records. In these cases, all the physical copies must be duly signed and if there will be an affidavit attached, then you have a good strong point, my friend. This thing also depends on the norms or the basic terms and conditions of the commission in which you are filing the complaint.

Referring to the case of Sanjay Kumar v. State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, 2021, would be a great idea as this will subsequently help you to make a good point. the case highlighted the points relating to the digital form of consumer complaints.

It is rather advisable to please check the necessities with the concerned officer of the commission in which you are filing the complaint. If there are no additional instructions provided then the electronic form of the complaint will act as sufficient proof that the complaint has been filed.

I hope I was able to help you with the query. If you need further clarification, then please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. (www.linkedin.com/in/pankhuri-rastogi-9221b2289)

Thank You.