Consumer Protection Act, 1986 Notes

 Consumer protection act notes

Notes for consumer protection: Introduction

The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (COPRA) is an act of the parliament of India enacted in 1986 to protect the interests of consumers in India. It is replaced by the consumer protection act 2019 It is made for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumer's grievances and for matters connected therewith it. The act was passed in Assembly in October 1986 and came into force on December 25, 1986.

The industrial revolution and the development in international trade and commerce has led to the vast expansion of business and trade, as a result of which a variety of consumer goods have appeared in the market to cater to the needs of the consumers and a host of services have been made available to the consumers like insurance, transport, electricity, housing, entertainment, finance and banking.

The Consumer Protection Bill, 1986 seeks to provide for better protection of the interests of consumers and for the purpose, to make provision for the establishment of Consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumer disputes and for matter connected therewith.

Objective of consumer act, 1986

The objectives of the Central Council is to promote and to protect the rights of the consumers such as: 

    1.     The right to be protected against the marketing of goods                   and services which are hazardous to life and property. 

1.    2 The right to be informed about the  quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services, as the case may be so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices;
   
   
   3.   The right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a                  variety of goods and services at competitive prices ;
   
   
   4.   The right to be heard and to be assured that consumer's                  interest will receive due consideration at appropriate                        forums;
   
   
   5.    The right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or restrictive trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers
   
   
   6.   The right to consumer education.
   
   
   that was made for, give rights to consumer

7. consumer dispute redressal agencies

                 District consumer disputes redressal forum (DCDRF): 

•  It consists of a person who is or has been or is qualified to be a district judge as its president, 2 other members, one of whom shall be a women

• Every member of the district forum shall hold office for a term of 5 years or up to the age of 65 years whichever is earlier

• It shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or service and the compensation, if any claimed does not exceed Rs.20 lakh.

Power of district forum

• To remove the defect pointed out bt the appropriate laboratory from the goods in question

• To replace the goods with new goods of similar description which shall be free from any defect

• To return to the complainant.

• To pay such amount as may be awarded by it as compensation to the consumer for any loss or injury suffered by the consumer due to the negligence of the opposite party

                      State consumer disputes redressal forum (DCDRF): 

• It shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or service and compensation, if any, claimed exceeds Rs. 20 lacs but does not exceed Rs. 1 crore and appeals against the orders of any district forum within the state.

                    National consumer disputes redressal forum (DCDRF): 

• It shall consist of a person who is or has been a judge of the supreme court, as its president. Not less than 4 and not more than such number of members as may be prescribed and one of whom shall be a women

• Every member of the national commission shall hold for a term of 5 years or up to the age of 70 years whichever is earlier.

• It shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services and compensation if any, the claim exceeds Rs 1 crore and appeals against the orders of any state commission.