Consumer Protection Act: Salient Features of the Act and Rights under the Act
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- It was enacted in 1986 for protecting consumers interests.
- A consumer buys goods and avails services through all modes of transaction.
- Easy and fast redressal of consumers grievances
- The Act covers public, private and Cooperative sectors
Salient Features of the Act
- It enshrines six rights of consumers
- The provision of the act are in addition to other laws
- It covers all goods and services
- Defines Goods and Services
- The Act covers all sectors
- The act seeks redressal of consumers complaint in a timely and inexpensive manner
- The Act provides timely redressal of grievances and is preventive in nature
- Establishes the National Commission at Central, State and District level and a district forum
- Complaints to district forum for value up to 20 laks, State commission for up to 1 crore National Commission to more than a crore
- Consumer can repeal against a decision to a higher body
- It charge only nominal fee to consumers
- It set up Consumer Protection Councils at District, State and the Central level.
Rights under the Act
- Right to Safety
- Right to Information
- Right to Choose
- Right to Represent
- Right to Redressal
- Right to Represent
- Right to Education
Responsibilities of the Consumers
- Responsibility to be aware
- Responsibility to think independently
- Responsibility to Speak out
- Responsibility to complain
- Responsibility to be an Ethical Consumer
Consumer Protection Act 2019
- Consumer Protection Act 2019 replaces Consumer Protection Act of 1986
- The Act provides for Effective implementation and settlement of consumer dispute
- The 2019 Bill was introduced by Ram villas Paswan
- Passed in Parliament in August 2019
- on 9th August it was Notified in the Gazette of India
- The act is not yet in force
- Section 10 (1) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides for the establishment of a Central Consumer Protection Authority
- It headquartered in the National Capital Region of Delhi
Powers and Functions of the Authority
- Investigate matters related to violations of consumer rights
- Recalls goods and services that are unsafe
- Pass orders for refund and discontinuation of unfair practices
- Impose penalty on false advertisements endorser up to ₹ 10 lakes and 2 year imprisonment
- Ban the endorser of a misleading advertisement
- Files complaints of consumers to District, State and the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission
- It is composed of a Chief Commissioner and two other commissioners as members
- The Central Consumer Protection Authority will have a separate wing for investigation
- District Collectors will also have a power to investigate.
✍ Mayank