Question

Give any two features of Consumer Protection Act.

Explain the salient features of the Consumer Protection Act.

Answer 1

1. Social Welfare Law: It is a highly progressive piece of social welfare legislation. It is acclaimed as the Magna Carta of Indian consumers. This is a unique law which directly pertains to consumers in the market place and seeks to redress complaints arising therefrom.
2. Comprehensive Provisions and Effective Safeguards: Its provisions are very comprehensive. It provides effective safeguards to the consumers against various types of exploitation and unfair trade practices. In fact, it provides more effective protection to consumers than any other law in India.
3. Special Consumer Courts: The Act has created special consumer courts for enforcement of the rights of consumers. 
4. Three-Tier Grievance Redressal Machinery: The Act provides for a three-tier consumer grievance redressal machinery - District Forums at the base, the State Commission at the middle level and the National Commission at the apex level. The redressal machinery is quasi-judicial in nature.
5. Simple and Inexpensive: There are no complicated or elaborate procedures or other technicalities. The redressal machinery is merely to observe the principles of natural justice. No court fee or any other charge is to be paid by the complainant. It is not obligatory to engage any advocate. The complainant can write his grievance on a simple paper along with the mi.me and address of the opposite party against whom the complaint is made.
   Thus, the Act provides a simple, convenient and inexpensive redressal of consumer grievances.
6. Covers Goods and Services: The Act covers both goods and services rendered for consideration by any person or organisation including public sector undertakings and Government agencies, telecom and housing construction and all modes of transactions (online teleshopping). However, services rendered free of charge or under any contract of personal service are excluded. All suppliers of goods and services in private, public and cooperative sectors are covered under the Act.
7. Time Frame: The Act lays down time limits for the disposal of cases so as to provide speedy redressal of grievances.
8. Class Action: The Act allows filing of class action complaints on behalf of groups of consumers having common interest.
9. Check on Unfair Trade Practices: The Act also covers complaints relating to unfair trade practices. Thus, a consumer can protect against food adulteration, short weighing and overcharging, directly to the District Forums. The consumer can pick up a food sample from a shop, get it analysed by a chemist and file a complaint on that basis.
10. Check on Overcharging: The Act also provides for complaints against charging in excess of the price of a product fixed by a law or rule and/or displayed on the packaged commodities.