CONS U M E R P R O TE C T IO N

-BY : ANSHIKA CHAWLA

12 E
02
MEANING
• CONSUMER PROTECTION MEANS SAFEGUARDING THE INTERESTS AND
RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS.

• IN OTHER WORDS, IT REFERS TO THE MEASURES ADOPTED FOR THE

PROTECTION OF CONSUMERS FROM UNSCRUPULOUS AND UNETHICAL
MALPRACTICES BY THE BUSINESS AND TO PROVIDE THEM SPEEDY
REDRESSAL OF THEIR GREIVANCES.

• CONSUMERS ARE THE KING OF THE MARKET AND HIS EVERY NEED AND
DEMAND NEEDS TO BE FULFILLED AND PROTECTED AGINST ANY KIND OF
MISLEADING ACTIVITIES.

• AND THEREFORE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT WAS NEEDED TO

PROTECT THE CONSUMERS AGAINST THE UNFAIR PRACTICES OF THE
PRODUCERS AND SELLERS.
DEFINITION
CONSUMER PROTECTION IS THE
PRACTICE OF SAFEGUARDING BUYERS OF
GOODS AND SERVICES, AND THE PUBLIC,
AGAINST UNFAIR PRACTICES IN THE 
MARKETPLACE.
CONSUMERS ARE EXPLOITED BY:

•ADULTERATION OF CONSUMER GOODS .

•POOR QUALITY OF GOODS AND SERVICES.
•SHORT / LESS MEAUSRED AND
UNDERWEIGHT GOODS .
•CREATION OF ARTIFICIAL
SCARCITY / DEFICIENCY BY
HOARDING OF GOODS .
•DEFECTED GOODS .
•UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES .
THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 2019
• CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2019 IS AN ACT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF INDIA. IT REVEALS AND
REPLACES THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 1986.

• THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT , 2019 WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 8 JULY 2019 BY
THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION, RAM VILAS PASWAN.

•  IT WAS PASSED BY LOK SABHA ON 30 JULY 2019  AND LATER PASSED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 6 AUGUST
[2]

2019.[
SALIENT FEATURES OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT

• COVERAGE OF ITEMS : THIS ACT IS APPLICABLE ON ALL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.

• COVERAGE OF SECTOR : THIS ACT IS APPLICABLE TO ALL AREAS WETHER PRIVATE ,
PUBLIC OR COOPERATIVE.

• COMPENSATORY NATURE OF PROVISIONS AS IT COMPENSATES THE CONSUMERS

FOR THE LOSSES.

• GROUP OF CONSUMERS RIGHT .

• EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARD.
WHO CAN FILE A COMPLAINT ?
• A CONSUMER OR ANY VOLUNTARY CONSUMER ASSOCIATION
REGISTERED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT 1956 OR UNDER ANY OTHER
LAW FOR THE TIME BEING IN FORCE .

• THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OR STATE GOVERNMENT.

• ONE OR MORE CONSUMERS , WHERE THERE ARE NUMEROUS CONSUMERS
HAVING THE SAME INTEREST.

• IN CASE DEATH OF A CONSUMER , HIGH LEGAL HEIR OR REPRESENTATIVE.

PROCEDURE OF COMPLAINT
• FILE WITHIN 2 YEARS OF ACTION IN THE FORUM WHERE THE SELLER HAS
HIS BUSINESS OR LIVES OR WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED .

• NO LAWYER IS NEEDED.
• THERE IS NO FEE FOR FILING A COMPLAINT .
• A COMPLAINT CAN BE SENT BY POST OR PRESENTSED IN PERSON BY
COMPLAINT OR HIS AUTHORISED AGENT.
TIME FRAME WITHIN WHICH A COMPLAINT CAN BE
FILED

• SECTION 24 A OF THE ACT PROVIDES THAT A CONSUMER DISPUTE CAN BE FILED WITHIN TWO YEARS
FROM THE DATE IN WHICH THE CAUSE OF ACTION ARISES.

• THE POINT OF TIME WHEN CAUSE OF ACTION ARISES IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN DETERMINING THE
TIME PERIOD AVILABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT . THERE ARE NO SUCH RULES TO DECIDE SUCH TIME .