2. Introduction
The Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986.
Some Amendments were made in 2002.
The Act applies to the whole of India except the State
of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is an Act to provide better protection of the
interest of the consumers.
3. The act is proposed to :-
1. Protect the interests of consumers
2. Confer certain rights on consumers
3. Stop traders from cheating consumers
4. Offer simple, quick and inexpensive
redressal for consumers
4. Rights of Consumer
► Right to safety
► Right to be informed
► Right to choose
► Right to be heard
► Right to seek redressal
► Right to consumer education
5. Definitions
Consumer is a person who…..
i) buys any goods for a consideration
ii) hires any services for a consideration
6. Who are not consumers?
1. A person who purchased goods for resale
2. A person who purchased goods for
commercial purpose
3. A person who obtains services without
consideration
4. Tax-payers to municipality
5. Contractors
6. Applicants for jobs
7. Persons who filed suits in courts
7. Defect or Deficiency
“any fault, imperfections or shortcoming in
the quality, quantity, potency, purity or
standard which is required to be maintained
by or under any law”.
Services
Any description which is made available to
potential users
8. Complaint
‘Complaint’ means any allegation in writing
made for-
i) an unfair trade practice or a restrictive trade
practice adopted by any trade or service
provider
ii) the goods bought by complainant or agreed
to be bought by him suffers from one more
defect
iii) the services hired or agreed to be hired
suffer from deficiency in any respect
9. iv) a trader or the service provider has
charged for the goods or for the services ,
a price in excess of the price-
a) fixed by or under any law
b) displayed on the goods or any package
containing such goods
c) agreed between the parties
10. A complaint may be filed by
1. The consumer to whom such goods are sold
2. Any recognized consumer association, where
that consumer is a member
3. One or more consumers, where there are
numerous consumers having same interest
4. The Central and State Government
11. Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums
The aims and objectives of the Act are achieved by the
constitution and creation of
District Forum
State Commission
National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.
12. District Forum
A District forum have jurisdiction to
entertain complaints where the value of
the goods or services or compensation, if
any, claimed does not exceed Rs.20 Lakhs.
13. State Commission
Each State Commissionn have jurisdiction to entertain
complaints where the value of the goods or services
or compensation, if any, claimed exceeds Rs. 20 Lakhs
but does not exceed Rs.1 Crore and appeals against
the orders of any District Forum within the State.
14. National Commission
The National Commission have jurisdiction to
entertain complaints where the value of the
goods or services or compensation, if any, the
claim exceeds Rs. 1 Crore and also the appeals
against the orders of any State Commission.
15. Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums
The District Forum, State Commission or the National
Commission shall not admit a complaint unless it is filed
within 2 years from the date on which the cause of action
has arisen.
Where a trader or a person against whom a complaint is
made fails to comply with any order made by the District
Forum, the State Commission, the National Commission,
such trader or person shall be punished with
imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 1
month but which may extend to 3 years, or with fine
which shall be not less than 2,000/- Rs. but which may
extend to 10,000/-Rs., or with both.
16. Findings and Verdicts
If a trader is found guilty , he must have to:-
• remove the defects
• replace the goods with new goods of
similar description.
• return complainant the price
• pay compensation to the consumer for any
loss or injury suffered
• discontinue the unfair trade practices
17. Appeals
▒ Appeal to the State commission
▒ any person aggrieved by an order made by the
district forum may prefer an appeal against such order
to the State commission within a period of 30 days
▒ Appeal to the National commission
▒ any person aggrieved by an order made by the State
commission in exercise of its powers may prefer an
appeal against such order to the National commission
within a period of 30 days