Chapter III - Central Consumer Protection Authority
Section 22
Section 22: Search and seizure
Section 22 grants specified investigation-linked entry, search and seizure powers and sets safeguards for material seized or produced under those powers.
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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) For the purpose of conducting an investigation after preliminary inquiry under sub-section (1) of section 19, the Director-General or any other officer authorised by him in this behalf, or the District Collector, as the case may be, may, if he has any reason to believe that any person has violated any consumer rights or committed unfair trade practice or causes any false or misleading advertisement to be made, shall,-- (a) enter at any reasonable time into any such premises and search for any document or record or article or any other form of evidence and seize such document, record, article or such evidence; (b) make a note or an inventory of such record or article; or (c) require any person to produce any record, register or other document or article.
(2) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), relating to search and seizure shall apply, as far as may be, for search and seizure under this Act.
(3) Every document, record or article seized under clause (a) of sub-section (1) or produced under clause (c) of that sub-section shall be returned to the person, from whom they were seized or who produced the same, within a period of twenty days of the date of such seizure or production, as the case may be, after copies thereof or extracts therefrom certified by that person, in such manner as may be prescribed, have been taken.
(4) Where any article seized under sub-section (1) are subject to speedy or natural decay, the Director-General or such other officer may dispose of the article in such manner as may be prescribed.
(5) In the case of articles other than the articles referred to in sub-section (4), provisions contained in clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 38 shall mutatis mutandis apply in relation to analysis or tests.
Introduction
After a section 19 preliminary inquiry, the Director-General or authorised officer, or the District Collector, may exercise the listed powers on reason to believe. Criminal Procedure Code search safeguards apply; seized or produced material must be returned within twenty days of seizure or production, after certified copies or extracts are taken.
The power is linked to an investigation after preliminary inquiry and the section’s conditions; a search is not itself proof of a violation.
Key takeaways
Who and what it covers
After a section 19 preliminary inquiry, the Director-General or authorised officer, or the District Collector, may exercise the listed powers on reason to believe. Criminal Procedure Code search safeguards apply; seized or produced material must be returned within twenty days of seizure or production, after certified copies or extracts are taken.
Operational step
Record the officer’s identity, authorisation, stated grounds, time and premises.
Boundary
The power is linked to an investigation after preliminary inquiry and the section’s conditions; a search is not itself proof of a violation.
Purpose and trigger
After a section 19 preliminary inquiry, the Director-General or authorised officer, or the District Collector, may exercise the listed powers on reason to believe. Criminal Procedure Code search safeguards apply; seized or produced material must be returned within twenty days of seizure or production, after certified copies or extracts are taken.
Practical sequence
Record the officer’s identity, authorisation, stated grounds, time and premises.
- Record the officer’s identity, authorisation, stated grounds, time and premises.
- Inventory each document, record or article seized or produced and record its seizure or production date; preserve copies where possible.
- Track twenty days from seizure or production for return of the material; certified copies or extracts must be taken before return. Check the separate disposal or testing route for articles.
Limit and related provision
The power is linked to an investigation after preliminary inquiry and the section’s conditions; a search is not itself proof of a violation.
The text is the central Act. Check current rules, regulations and notifications where the section delegates a detail.
Hypothetical example
Investigators search a seller’s premises in a misleading-ad inquiry, seize campaign records and require production of a register. The seller inventories both, certifies copies or extracts, and tracks return within twenty days of each seizure or production.
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
- Record the officer’s identity, authorisation, stated grounds, time and premises.
- Inventory each document, record or article seized or produced and record its seizure or production date; preserve copies where possible.
- Track twenty days from seizure or production for return of the material; certified copies or extracts must be taken before return. Check the separate disposal or testing route for articles.
Avoid
- Do not calculate the twenty days from the date copies or extracts are certified; the clock starts on seizure or production.
- The power is linked to an investigation after preliminary inquiry and the section’s conditions; a search is not itself proof of a violation.
Illustrative example
Section 22 in practice
Investigators search a seller’s premises in a misleading-ad inquiry, seize campaign records and require production of a register. The seller inventories both, certifies copies or extracts, and tracks return within twenty days of each seizure or production.
Identify the trigger
After a section 19 preliminary inquiry, the Director-General or authorised officer, or the District Collector, may exercise the listed powers on reason to believe. Criminal Procedure Code search safeguards apply; seized or produced material must be returned within twenty days of seizure or production, after certified copies or extracts are taken.
Gather evidence
Inventory each document, record or article seized or produced and record its seizure or production date; preserve copies where possible.
Apply the limit
The power is linked to an investigation after preliminary inquiry and the section’s conditions; a search is not itself proof of a violation.
Outcome
- Track twenty days from seizure or production for return of the material; certified copies or extracts must be taken before return. Check the separate disposal or testing route for articles.
Glossary
- Seizure
- Taking records, documents or articles under the investigation conditions of section 22.
- Certified extract
- A copy or extract certified by the person from whom material was seized or who produced it under section 22(3).
Frequently asked questions
When must seized or produced records be returned?
Within twenty days of seizure or production, after copies or extracts certified by the person have been taken in the prescribed manner.
What procedure governs the search and seizure?
Section 22(2) applies the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, relating to search and seizure, as far as may be.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026