Need for the Consumer Protection Act, 2019
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 was enacted by the Indian legislature to deal with matters relating to violation of consumer’s rights, unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, and all those circumstances which are prejudicial to the consumer’s rights. The intention of the Parliament behind enacting the Act was to include provisions for e-consumers due to the development of technology, buying and selling of goods and services online have considerably increased during the last few years.
The Act seeks to provide better protection of the rights and interests of the consumers by establishing Consumer Protection Councils to settle disputes in case any dispute arises and to provide adequate compensation to the consumers in case their rights have been infringed. It further provides speedy and effective disposal of consumer complaints through alternate dispute resolution mechanisms. The Act also promotes consumer education in order to educate the consumer about their rights, responsibilities and also redressing their grievances.
Objective of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019
The main objective of the Act is to protect the interests of the consumers and to establish a stable and strong mechanism for the settlement of consumer disputes. The Act aims to:
- Protect against the marketing of products that are hazardous to life and property.
- Inform about the quality, potency, quantity, standard, purity, and price of goods to safeguard the consumers against unfair trade practices.
- Establish Consumer Protection Councils for protecting the rights and interests of the consumers.
- Assure, wherever possible, access to an authority of goods at competitive prices.
- Seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers.
- Protect the consumers by appointing authorities for timely and sufficient administration and settlement of consumers’ disputes.
- Lay down the penalties for offences committed under the Act.
- Hear and ensure that consumers’ welfare will receive due consideration at appropriate forums in case any problem or dispute arises.
- Provide consumer education, so that the consumers are able to be aware of their rights.
- Provide speedy and effective disposal of consumer complaints through alternate dispute resolution mechanisms.
