Provided that the complaints of individual consumers maintainable before a consumer disputes redressal forum under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (68 of 1986) shall not be taken up by the Board but shall be heard and disposed of by such forum.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression "consumer disputes redressal forum " shall mean the district forum, State Commission or, the National Commission, as the case may be, constituted under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (68 of 1986).

(2)

Every complaint made under sub-section (1) shall be filed within sixty days from the date on which any act or conduct constituting a contravention took place and shall be in such form and shall be accompanied by such fee as may be provided by regulations:

Provided that the Board may entertain a complaint after the expiry of the said period if it is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing the complaint within that period.

(3)

On receipt of a complaint under sub-section (1), the Board shall decide within thirty days whether there is a prima facie case against the entity or entities concerned and may either conduct enquiry on its own or refer the matter for investigation under this Chapter, to an Investigating Officer having jurisdiction; and, where the matter is referred to such Investigating Officer, on receipt of a report from such Investigating Officer, the Board may, hear and dispose of the complaint as a dispute if it falls under sub-section (2) of section 27 and in any other case, it may pass such orders and issue such directions as it deems fit.

(4)

Where the Central Government considers that a matter arising out of the provisions of this Act is required to be investigated, it shall make a reference to the Board and the provisions of this Act shall apply as if such reference were a complaint made to the Board.