The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006
25. Filing of
complaints.-
1. A
complaint may be filed before the Board by any person in respect of matters
relating to entities or between entities on any matter arising out of the
provisions of this Act: 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.