Chapter III - Central Consumer Protection Authority
Section 13
Section 13: Appointment of officers, experts, professionals and other employees of Central Authority
Section 13 provides for CCPA officers and employees and permits engagement of necessary experts and professionals.
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Need advice on Section 13?
This article is for general information. Refer to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) The Central Government shall provide the Central Authority such number of officers and other employees as it considers necessary for the efficient performance of its functions under this Act.
(2) The salaries and allowances payable to, and the other terms and conditions of service of, the officers and other employees of the Central Authority appointed under this Act shall be such as may be prescribed.
(3) The Central Authority may engage, in accordance with the procedure specified by regulations, such number of experts and professionals of integrity and ability, who have special knowledge and experience in the areas of consumer rights and welfare, consumer policy, law, medicine, food safety, health, engineering, product safety, commerce, economics, public affairs or administration, as it deems necessary to assist it in the discharge of its functions under this Act.
Introduction
The Central Government provides staffing under prescribed terms. The Authority may engage experts and professionals to assist its functions as provided by regulations.
Engagement of expertise does not itself confer the Authority’s final order power on an outside professional.
Key takeaways
Who and what it covers
The Central Government provides staffing under prescribed terms. The Authority may engage experts and professionals to assist its functions as provided by regulations.
Operational step
Identify whether a communication is from an authorised Authority officer or engaged expert.
Boundary
Engagement of expertise does not itself confer the Authority’s final order power on an outside professional.
Purpose and trigger
The Central Government provides staffing under prescribed terms. The Authority may engage experts and professionals to assist its functions as provided by regulations.
Practical sequence
Identify whether a communication is from an authorised Authority officer or engaged expert.
- Identify whether a communication is from an authorised Authority officer or engaged expert.
- Check the applicable staffing or engagement instrument when authority is material.
- Preserve technical material supplied to the Authority and the expert questions asked.
Limit and related provision
Engagement of expertise does not itself confer the Authority’s final order power on an outside professional.
The text is the central Act. Check current rules, regulations and notifications where the section delegates a detail.
Hypothetical example
A product-safety inquiry uses technical specialists; the manufacturer records what material was requested and which officer issued the request.
Primary sources
The statutory wording is drawn from the official central Act and checked against the India Code consolidation. The commencement notice identifies when this provision took effect.
Practical checklist
Do
- Identify whether a communication is from an authorised Authority officer or engaged expert.
- Check the applicable staffing or engagement instrument when authority is material.
- Preserve technical material supplied to the Authority and the expert questions asked.
Avoid
- Do not attribute a final CCPA direction to an engaged expert without an authorising provision.
- Engagement of expertise does not itself confer the Authority’s final order power on an outside professional.
Illustrative example
Section 13 in practice
A product-safety inquiry uses technical specialists; the manufacturer records what material was requested and which officer issued the request.
Identify the trigger
The Central Government provides staffing under prescribed terms. The Authority may engage experts and professionals to assist its functions as provided by regulations.
Gather evidence
Check the applicable staffing or engagement instrument when authority is material.
Apply the limit
Engagement of expertise does not itself confer the Authority’s final order power on an outside professional.
Outcome
- Preserve technical material supplied to the Authority and the expert questions asked.
Glossary
- Engaged expert
- A professional engaged to assist the Central Authority under section 13.
- Professional engagement
- Use of a specialist to assist the Central Authority under the regulatory procedure specified for section 13(3).
Frequently asked questions
May the Authority use outside expertise?
Yes. Section 13 permits engagement of experts and professionals for assistance under the statutory framework.
Who supplies the Authority’s officers and employees?
The Central Government provides them in the number and on the terms covered by section 13 and applicable rules.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026