Section 66 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Section 66 is a one-sentence power. Where the National Commission or the State Commission thinks a matter involves the larger interest of consumers, it may direct an individual, an organisation or an expert to assist it. This article explains each part of that sentence, and what the section leaves unsaid. If your complaint raises an issue affecting many consumers, our legal consultation team can help you decide how to present it.
On an application by a complainant or otherwise, if the National Commission or the State Commission is of the opinion that the matter involves the larger interest of consumers, it may direct any individual or organisation or expert to assist it. The section names only the National and State Commissions, not the District Commission. It prints no fee, no qualifications and no procedure.
Section 66 in parts
| Part of the text | What it means |
|---|---|
| "National Commission or the State Commission, as the case may be" | The power sits with these two bodies only |
| "on an application by a complainant or otherwise" | A complainant may ask; the Commission may also act on its own |
| "is of the opinion that it involves the larger interest of consumers" | The Commission's own opinion is the trigger |
| "may direct any individual or organisation or expert" | Three kinds of helper; the direction is discretionary |
| "to assist" the Commission | The helper assists; the text does not give the helper any decision-making role |
Who has the power
The section reads: "Where the National Commission or the State Commission, as the case may be, on an application by a complainant or otherwise, is of the opinion that it involves the larger interest of consumers, it may direct any individual or organisation or expert to assist the National Commission or the State Commission, as the case may be."
The District Commission is not mentioned. This article does not read the power into it. For the money limits that decide whether a complaint is heard at the State or National level, see section 58 on the jurisdiction of the National Commission and the existing note on pecuniary jurisdiction. Those limits are as enacted and may have been changed by rules, so check them before relying on them.
"On an application by a complainant or otherwise"
Two doors open this power:
- A complainant applies. The complainant can say, in the complaint or by a separate application, that the case raises an issue larger than their own claim and that assistance is needed.
- The Commission acts of its own accord. "Or otherwise" has no stated limit. It could be a Commission's own view after reading the complaint, or something raised by the opposite party.
The Act does not say how the application is made, whether the other side is heard first, or whether a refusal can be challenged.
"The larger interest of consumers"
This phrase is the condition for the whole power. The Act does not define it, so the Commission's own opinion decides whether it is met. Two points are safe to state:
- The wording is "larger interest of consumers", not "interest of the complainant". The section is aimed at matters whose effect goes beyond the parties, for example a product or practice that touches many buyers.
- The test is the Commission's opinion. The section does not require proof that many consumers are affected, or any particular number.
For other ways the Act reaches consumers beyond the individual complainant, see our guide on the Central Consumer Protection Authority.
"Any individual or organisation or expert"
The Commission may direct three kinds of helper:
| Helper | What the text says |
|---|---|
| Individual | Any individual, not limited to a professional |
| Organisation | Any organisation, not limited to a consumer organisation |
| Expert | Any expert, with no field or qualification stated |
The section does not say how the person is chosen, what qualifications they need, or whether the parties may object. It also does not say who pays the helper, whether they must report in writing, or whether the Commission must give reasons before accepting their view. Those are left to rules and regulations, which are not in the source text. The article names no rule, fee or form because none is in the section.
"To assist": what the helper is and is not
The verb is "assist". The section does not make the expert a member of the Commission, and nothing in it says the Commission is bound to follow the helper's view. The decision stays with the Commission. How assistance is received, whether by written note, oral submission or inspection, is not described.
Example 1. A State Commission is hearing a complaint by a buyer of a packaged health supplement. The complaint alleges that the label does not warn about a risk that could affect many users. The complainant applies for the Commission to be assisted by a food-science expert. The Commission, of the opinion that the matter involves the larger interest of consumers, directs an expert to assist it under section 66.
Example 2. A National Commission matter concerns a standard-form clause in a housing scheme. A consumer organisation that has dealt with many similar buyers is directed to assist the Commission by placing its experience before it. Here the helper is an organisation, not an individual.
What section 66 does not do
- It does not give the Commission power to appoint a person to decide the dispute.
- It does not say that assistance is mandatory in any class of case.
- It does not mention costs, nor whether a party can bring its own expert.
- It does not create a separate right for an individual or organisation to demand that they be heard. The power is to direct, not to permit someone to intervene.
Powers for sampling and testing goods are found in the complaint procedure in section 38, not here, so this article does not cover them. For how a complaint moves after admission, read the District Commission procedure article first and then compare with the National Commission's borrowed procedure in sections 59–60.
Need help with a matter of wider consumer interest?
When a complaint reaches beyond one buyer, it helps to set out the wider effect clearly from the start, so the Commission can see why assistance is warranted. Our team can read your complaint and advise how to frame the application. Book a legal consultation and bring your complaint papers and any material showing the wider impact.
Key takeaways
- Section 66 lets the National Commission and the State Commission direct an individual, organisation or expert to assist them.
- The trigger is the Commission's opinion that the matter involves the larger interest of consumers.
- It can act on a complainant's application or otherwise.
- The District Commission is not named in the section.
- The text gives no fee, qualification or procedure for the helper.
Read next
- Section 65: service of notice
- Sections 67–68: appeal to the Supreme Court and finality of orders
- Pecuniary Jurisdiction: Which Forum to Approach
- Consumer Protection Act 2019: Complete Guide to Rights, Forums and Remedies
Disclaimer: Based on the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 as enacted, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Monetary limits, fees and procedure are set or revised by rules and regulations made under the Act and should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.