Any Legal Heir or Representative Can File Consumer Complaint on Deceased’s Behalf : Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that any legal heir of a deceased consumer is competent to file a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act. The ruling came in a case where the deceased’s brother faced a challenge, with opponents arguing he was not a “Class-I” heir.

The court rejected this, emphasising that the Consumer Protection Act is a welfare legislation and must be interpreted liberally.

It clarified that the Act makes no distinction between Class-I and Class-II heirs, and any legal heir or representative is entitled to seek redressal on behalf of the deceased, provided they are not a “stranger or rank-outsider.”

[Soumya Bhattacharya v. Sudhir Kumar Thakur & Ors.]