/The Act · Chapter VII · Appeal and Alternate Dispute Resolution
Section 31: Alternate dispute resolution
DPDP Act, 2023 (No. 22 of 2023). Comes into force on 13 May 2027.
- Provision
- Section 31 of The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
- Status
- Comes into force on 13 May 2027 (phase 3) G.S.R. 843(E)
- Rules made under it
- None identified
- Source
- Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department) · 11 August 2023 · Official PDF
If the Board is of the opinion that any complaint may be resolved by mediation, it may direct the parties concerned to attempt resolution of the dispute through such mediation by such mediator as the parties may mutually agree upon, or as provided for under any law for the time being in force in India.
Section 31 allows the Board (the regulatory body overseeing the Act) to direct the use of mediation for resolving complaints. If the Board believes a dispute can be settled this way, it can instruct the involved parties to attempt mediation. The parties have the freedom to mutually agree on who will act as the mediator. If they do not choose one themselves, the mediation can be conducted by a mediator provided under any other law currently in force in India. This provision offers a collaborative way to resolve disputes outside of standard Board proceedings.
Key points
- The Board can direct parties to attempt mediation if it believes a complaint can be resolved that way.
- The parties involved can mutually agree on a mediator.
- Mediation can also be handled by a mediator provided under any other existing Indian law.
Common misreadings
- Assuming the Board will always appoint the mediator, when the law actually allows the parties to mutually agree on one.
Interpretation prepared from the official text only, 9 September 2026. The official text above prevails.
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