Chapter IV - Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
Section 65
Section 65: Service of notice, etc
Section 65 sets methods and deemed-service rules for notices under the Act, including electronic service providers and their nodal officers.
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Need advice on Section 65?
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) All notices, required by this Act to be served, shall be served by delivering or transmitting a copy thereof by registered post acknowledgment due addressed to opposite party against whom complaint is made or to the complainant by speed post or by such courier service, approved by the District Commission, the State Commission or the National Commission, as the case may be, or by any other mode of transmission of documents including electronic means.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in sub-section (1), the notice required by this Act may be served on an electronic service provider at the address provided by it on the electronic platform from where it provides its services as such and for this purpose, the electronic service provider shall designate a nodal officer to accept and process such notices.
(3) When an acknowledgment or any other receipt purporting to be signed by the opposite party or his agent or, as the case may be, by the complainant is received by the District Commission, the State Commission or the National Commission, as the case may be, or postal article containing the notice is received back by such District Commission, State Commission or the National Commission, with an endorsement purporting to have been made by a postal employee or by any person authorised by the courier service to the effect that the opposite party or his agent or complainant had refused to take delivery of the postal article containing the notice or had refused to accept the notice by any other means specified in sub-section (1) when tendered or transmitted to him, the District Commission or the State Commission or the National Commission, as the case may be, shall declare that the notice has been duly served on the opposite party or to the complainant, as the case may be:
Provided that where the notice was properly addressed, pre-paid and duly sent by registered post acknowledgment due, a declaration referred to in this sub-section shall be made notwithstanding the fact that the acknowledgment has been lost or misplaced, or for any other reason, has not been received by the District Commission, the State Commission or the National Commission, as the case may be, within thirty days from the date of issue of notice.
(4) All notices required to be served on an opposite party or to complainant, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be sufficiently served, if addressed in the case of the opposite party, to the place where business or profession is carried on, and in case of the complainant, the place where such person actually and voluntarily resides.
Introduction
A business should maintain accurate business and platform notice addresses, designate a nodal officer if it is an electronic service provider, and preserve delivery evidence and internal escalation logs.
Key takeaways
What the section does
Section 65 sets methods and deemed-service rules for notices under the Act, including electronic service providers and their nodal officers.
Operational response
A business should maintain accurate business and platform notice addresses, designate a nodal officer if it is an electronic service provider, and preserve delivery evidence and internal escalation logs.
Important boundary
Refusal of delivery can amount to service. A correctly addressed, prepaid registered article may be declared served even without an acknowledgment within thirty days; the provision also addresses electronic transmission.
When the provision matters
Section 65 sets methods and deemed-service rules for notices under the Act, including electronic service providers and their nodal officers.
Refusal of delivery can amount to service. A correctly addressed, prepaid registered article may be declared served even without an acknowledgment within thirty days; the provision also addresses electronic transmission.
Practical response
A business should maintain accurate business and platform notice addresses, designate a nodal officer if it is an electronic service provider, and preserve delivery evidence and internal escalation logs.
Decision points and records
Test notice addresses, escalation ownership and acknowledgment retention before a dispute arises.
Do not leave a platform notice inbox unmonitored because registered post is also available.
Example
A marketplace receives a Commission notice at its listed platform address. Its nodal officer logs receipt and routes it to the legal team immediately.
Official sources
Practical checklist
Do
- Maintain current addresses, nodal officer details and notice receipt logs.
- Test notice addresses, escalation ownership and acknowledgment retention before a dispute arises.
Avoid
- Do not rely on avoiding a postal article to prevent service.
- Do not leave a platform notice inbox unmonitored because registered post is also available.
Illustrative example
Section 65 in practice
A marketplace receives a Commission notice at its listed platform address. Its nodal officer logs receipt and routes it to the legal team immediately.
Identify the statutory trigger
Section 65 sets methods and deemed-service rules for notices under the Act, including electronic service providers and their nodal officers.
Preserve the key record
Test notice addresses, escalation ownership and acknowledgment retention before a dispute arises.
Apply the limit
Refusal of delivery can amount to service. A correctly addressed, prepaid registered article may be declared served even without an acknowledgment within thirty days; the provision also addresses electronic transmission.
Outcome
- A business should maintain accurate business and platform notice addresses, designate a nodal officer if it is an electronic service provider, and preserve delivery evidence and internal escalation logs.
Glossary
- National Commission
- The national consumer dispute redressal forum under Chapter IV of the Act.
- Nodal officer
- The person an electronic service provider must designate to accept and process statutory notices sent to its platform address.
Frequently asked questions
Can an electronic service provider receive notice through its platform address?
Yes. Subsection (2) permits service at the address it gives on the platform and requires a nodal officer to accept and process notices.
Can refusal of a properly tendered notice still count as service?
Yes. Subsection (3) directs the Commission to declare service in the specified refusal situations.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026