Basic overview of consumer rights and its protection.

Q. The first question is who is a consumer?

I (consumer) and you (consumer). A person who buys a good or service for his own personal use and not for further manufacture is called a consumer. Consumers play an important role in the market. The market for a good or service constitutes all the consumers and producers of that good or service. If there is no consumer, producers will have no one to provide the good.
As a consumer or buyer are you aware about what your rights are.

You purchase a variety of goods and services in the market but in case you have any problem with your purchase like a defective good, Do you know what your rights are and whom or how to approached to get your issue resolve. We are very well aware that consumers faced Various problems on account of competition in the market, misleading advertisements and services etc. Hence under the consumer protection act,1986 , government of India has provided certain rights to safeguard consumers interest.

Q. what is meaning of right under consumer protection act?

A right is a moral and legal entitlement (privilege) given to a person. It is something that we have permission to own or do.

Let us understand these rights in detail:

1. Right to safety:

   Consumer has a right to be protected against goods and services which are hazardous to health and property.
   Ex- Manufacturing defects in pressure cookers, gas cylinder's may cause loss to life, property and health of consumers.
   
   

2. Right to be informed:

   consumer has the right to have complete information about the product he is buying.
   Ex- quantity, quality, purity standard or grade, date of manufacture and price of the goods.
   So, as to protect himself against the abusive and unfair practices.
   
   

3. Right to choose:

   Every consumer has freedom to choose goods and services from various products available at competitive price.
   i.e., Producer can't force him to buy particular brand only.
   
   

4. Right to be heard:

   If consumer exploited, dissatisfied with any product, or has any complaint against any product, So he has the right to file complaint and to be heard.
   There is some new points as we know that many business firms have set their own consumer services and grievances call.
   
   

5. Right to seek redressal:

   Consumer has the right to get relief against any unfair trade practices, if product is not according to his expectation or is dangerous.
   Ex- Replacement of product, Removal of defect in product.
   
   

6. Right to consumer education:

   Consumer has a right to acquire knowledge and to be a well informed consumer [rights and reliefs available in case product is not according to his expectation].

• Government of India also making consumer aware by using media.

Protections:
There are certain laws in which clearly talks about what are the consumer laws/acts and how they can protect.

• Laws to Protect Consumers:

  • The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (COPRA)

    In this, it protects the right of the consumer and makes user aware of their rights.
    They have developed or formed a three-tier system wherein there is District Forums, State Commission, and National Commission thus to protect the right of the consumer.
    
    

  • Indian Contract Act, 1972

    They lay down the conditions in which the parties promise each other of the services to be provided and agree on certain terms.
    The contract is made that is binding on each other. They protect the interest that the contract is not breached and in case if breached the remuneration to be provided.
    
    

  • The Sales of Good Act, 1930

    To ensure the consumer rights in case the goods offered to the consumer is not up to the standard which was promised and the false claim was made.
    
    

  • The Essential Commodities Act, 1955

    To keep track of the commodities which are essential and monitor their production and supply.
    Also keep a track of any hoarders, black marketers, The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) Act, 1937.
    To implement the grading standard and hence monitoring the same whether standard checks are been done to issue the grading.
    In this, AGMARK is the standard introduced for agricultural goods.
    
    

  • The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.

    This act makes sure the purity of the food items and the health of the consumers which could be affected by the adulterated items.
    
    

  • The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976.

    The Standards of Weights and Measures Act protects the right against the goods which is underweight or under measured.
    
    

  • The Trade Marks Act, 1999

    This act protects users from false marks which could mislead the consumer and hence cheat them in the ground of quality of the product.
    
    

  • The Competition Act, 2002

    The Competition Act replaced from the Monopolies and the Restrictive Trade Practices Act following to take action against the firms which use such practice which in turn affect the competition in the market.
    
    

  • The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986

    The Bureau of Indian Standards Act ensures about the quality of the product to be used by the consumer and has introduced BIS mark to certify the quality of the product and have set up grievance cell which can take complaints regarding the quality of the product.
    
    Award Winning Article is Written By: Ms.Sapna Kumari
    
    

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