The Consumer Protection Act (2019) aims to enhance consumer rights and establish a framework for resolving consumer disputes in India, including the formation of consumer councils at various levels. It grants consumers rights such as protection from hazardous goods, informed choices, and seeking redress against unfair trade practices. The act also outlines a tiered consumer redressal system through district, state, and national commissions to address grievances and ensure justice for consumers.

1. Consumer Protection Act

2. • Meaning and history of Consumer Protection Act
• Objectives, features and importance of CPA
• Rights of Consumers
• Consumer protection council
• Consumer redressal system
• Functions of consumer courts

3.  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.

4. • The development in the 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 the needs of the
consumers and a host of services to the consumers like insurance,
transport, electricity, entertainment and banking.
• For the welfare of the public, the glut of adulterated and sub-standard
articles in the market have to be checked.
• various provisions providing protection to the consumer and providing
for stringent action against adulterated and sub-standard articles in the
different enactments like Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the Indian
Contract Act, 1872, the Sale of Goods Act, 1930, the Indian Penal Code,
1860, the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and the Motor
Vehicles Act, 1988.
History

5. • Though the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Act, 1969 arid the Prevention of
Food Adulteration Act, 1954 have provided relief to the consumers from the exploitation
and to save them from adulterated and sub-standard goods and services.
• In order to provide for better protection of the interests of the consumer the Consumer
Protection Bill, 1986 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 5th December, 1986.
• The Consumer Protection act , 2019 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 8 July 2019 by
the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan. It was
passed by Lok Sabha on 30 July 2019 and later passed in Rajya Sabha on 6 August 2019.
• The bill received assent from President Ram Nath Kovind on 9 August, and was notified
in The Gazette of India on the same date. The Act came into effect by 20 July 2020, while
certain other provisions of the Act like establishing the Central Consumer Protection
Authority came into effect from 24 July 2020.
Continued…

6. • 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.
• It seeks to promote and protect the rights of consumers such as-
Right to be protected.
Right to be informed about the product.
Right to be heard at appropriate forum.
Right to seek redressal.
Right to consumer education.


7.  The salient features of the Consumers Protection Act, 1986 are-
• It applies to all goods, services and unfair trade practice unless
specifically exempted by the Central Government.
• It covers all sectors- private, public or co-operative.
• It provides for the establishment of consumer protection councils
at the central, state and district levels to promote and protect the
rights of consumers and a three-tier quasi consumer's grievances
and disputes.
• It provides statutory recognition to the six rights of consumers.

8. 
• To Organize Consumers
• Provide Market Information
• Importance of Physical Safety
• Informing Consumers about their Basic Rights
• Misleading Advertisements

9. RIGHT TO SAFETY
RIGHT TO INFORMATION
RIGHT TO CHOOSE
RIGHT TO BE HEARD
RIGHT TO SEEK REDRESSAL

10. Right to safety
•According to this right, the consumers have the right to be protected against
the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property.
•Example- the manufacturing defects in medicines and other electronic
appliances may cause damage to life of consumers.
Right to information
•The consumer has the right to get information about the quality, quantity,
purity, standard and price of goods or services to protect himself against the
abusive and unfair practices.
•The producer must supply all the relevant information.

11. Right to choose
• Every consumer has the right to choose their desired goods and services.
• The producer or supplier or retailer should not force the consumer to buy
a particular brand only.
Right to be heard
• The consumer has the right to represent him or right to advocate his
interest.
• In other words, consumers have a right to complain when there are
problems or concerns.

12. Right to seek redressal
• The consumer has the right to get compensation or seek redressal against
unfair trade practices or any other exploitation. It includes compensation
in the form of money or replacement of goods or repair of defect in the
goods as per the satisfaction of consumer.
Right to consumer education
• The right of consumer to acquire the knowledge and skills to be informed
to consumers.
• The government of India has included consumer education in the school
curriculum and in various university courses. Government is also making
use of media to make the consumers aware of their rights.

13. To achieve the objective of the Act Central and State protections
councils are formed under the Act.
Such councils helps the consumers and act in the interest of consumers.
The Consumer Protection Councils set up at national and state levels
Such councils helps the consumers and act in the interest of consumers.
The Consumer Protection Councils set up at national and state levels

14. protection from marketing hazardous goods and services,
informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services,
as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices;
access to a variety of goods and also services at competitive prices;
protection from marketing hazardous goods and services,

15. Central consumer
protection council
State consumer
protection council
District consumer protection
council

16.  1.) Central council:
• The minister in charge of the consumer affairs in the Central
Government, who shall be its chairman
• 8 members of parliament, 5 from the Lok Sabha and 3 from the Rajya
Sabha.
 2.) State council:
• It consists of a chairman and such number of official and also non-
official and also members ten nominees of the Central Government.
 3.) District council:
• In order to promote and protect the rights of consumers, within the
district, the Consumer Protection Act, provides for the establishment of a
District Consumer Protection Council in every district.

17. Redressal
System
District
Forum
State
Commission
National
Commission

20.  Consumer courts were established as Consumer Dispute Resolution
Agencies and they deal with consumer disputes, conflicts and
grievances. It is a forum where a consumer may file a case against a
seller in the case where the consumer feels that he has been cheated
or exploited by the seller.

21. Pecuniary Jurisdiction:
• The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum has the pecuniary
jurisdiction of up to an amount that does not exceed 20 lakhs.
• The State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has the pecuniary
jurisdiction where the claim exceeds 20 lakhs but does not exceed 1
crore rupees.
• The Nation Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission has the pecuniary
jurisdiction where the claim exceeds the amount of 1 crore rupees.

22. 2. Territorial Jurisdiction:
• Territorial jurisdiction is to be taken into consideration
after establishing pecuniary jurisdiction.
• When the opposite party voluntarily resides in or works in
those local limits.

23. 3. Appellate Jurisdiction:
•If a consumer is not satisfied by the decision made by the
district forum they may make an appeal to the state commission.
•If the consumer is aggrieved by the decision made by the state
commission they may appeal to the national commission.
•If a consumer is not satisfied by the decision made by the
national commission they may approach the Supreme Court for
an appeal.