Consumer Protection Act, 2019
The Act defined a consumer as a person who buys any goods or avails of service for final use.
It does not include a person who buys a good for resale or a good or service for commercial purposes.
It covers transactions through all modes including offline, and online.
The Consumer Protection Act empowers a consumer to present their case in consumer court without hiring a lawyer.
Rights of consumers under this act:
Right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property.
Right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services.
Right to Choice among a variety of goods or services at competitive prices.
Right to be heard
Right to seek Redressal against unfair or restrictive trade practices.
Right to Consumer Awareness
Role of Central Consumer Protection Authority
Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) promotes, protects and enforces the rights of consumers.
CCPA is a regulatory authority set up under Section 10(1) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
It functions under the guidelines of The Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
It regulates matters linked to the violation of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and misleading advertisements.
The CCPA has an investigation wing; they may conduct an inquiry or investigation into the case of violations of rules.
Inquiring into violations of consumer rights, investigating and taking appropriate action.
It could pass orders to recall goods or withdraw hazardous services, and refund the price paid.
It Issues directions to the concerned trader/ manufacturer/ endorser/ advertiser/ publisher to either discontinue a false or misleading advertisement.
It imposes penalties on a manufacturer or an endorser of up to Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment for up to two years for a false or misleading advertisement.
In case of a subsequent offense, the fine may extend to Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment of up to five years.
It Issues safety notices to consumers against unsafe goods and services.
Role of Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions
Appeals from the State CDRC will be heard by the National CDRC.
The final appeal to the Supreme Court.
The District CDRC will entertain complaints where the value of goods and services does not exceed Rs 1 crore.
The State CDRC will entertain complaints when the value is more than Rs 1 crore but does not exceed Rs 10 crore.
Complaints with a value of goods and services over Rs 10 crore will be entertained by the National CDRC.
E-Daakhil
E-Daakhil is an online portal launched by the Indian The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) in September 2020.
For facilitation of offline and online complaints relating to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 by consumers.
Consumers can file complaints from anywhere irrespective of their physical location.
Consumer commissions in various states can scrutinise the complaints online and can accept, reject or forward it for further processing at respective state level commissions.
Fees payable for the complaints can be done online or direct.
Integration of E-Daakhil portal with the common service centres to help e-filing by rural consumers.
Additional features include filing online notices, downloading the respective case document link related to any filed case, downloading the court hearing video, filing the reply in writing for issues raised by other party, getting alert subscription messages through mail or sms and other issues like additional filing by the complainant through online can be done.
COMMENTS