Appeal limitation under consumer law starts on communication of the signed order, not mere open-court pronouncement.

Limitation for an appeal under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 begins only when the signed and dated order is communicated to the parties free of charge, not merely when it is pronounced in open court. Reading Section 15 with the relevant rules, the limitation scheme was treated as protecting the right of appeal by ensuring that the affected party has access to the order with reasons before time starts to run. A pronouncement alone was held insufficient where the signed order had not yet been supplied. On that basis, appeals filed after receipt of the signed and dated copy were within time.

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Issues: Whether limitation for filing an appeal under Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 commenced from the date of pronouncement of the District Forum's order in open court or from the date on which a signed and dated copy of the order was communicated to the parties free of charge under the Rules.

Analysis: Section 15 prescribes a 30-day period for appeal from the date of the order, while Rule 4(10) requires the District Forum's order to be signed, dated, and communicated to the parties free of charge. Rule 8(3) also contemplates a certified copy of the order accompanying the memorandum of appeal. Reading these provisions together, the limitation scheme was held to protect the right of appeal by ensuring that the affected party has access to the signed order containing the reasons and contents before the period begins to run. Mere pronouncement in open court was held insufficient where the signed and dated copy had not yet been communicated.

Conclusion: Limitation began only when the signed and dated copy of the order was made available and communicated, and the appeals filed on that basis were within time.

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