In this competitive business world consumer is treated as a king.so the consumer is protected for consuming the product for the help of consumer protection act.

1. CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
1986 (COPRA)
PRESENTED BY
C.PANDISELVI M.COM.,M.PHIL.,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
S.B.K. COLLEGE,
ARUPPUKOTTAI.

2. INTRODUCTION
@The Consumer Protection Act 1986(COPRA)
was the act of an parliament of India enacted in 1986.
@ To protect the interest of the consumer.
@ The act was passed in assembly in
October1986and came into force on December24, 1986
@ It was made for the establishment of
Consumer council and other authorities for the
settlement of consumer’s grievances.

3. OBJECTIVES OF COPRA
@ To protect the consumers from immoral activities
and unfair trade practices of the traders.
@To protect and promote the rights of the
consumers.
@ To set up “Consumer Protection Council” to
educate the consumer and to make them aware of the
rights.
@ To redress disputes of the consumers, and matters
connected with them speedily.
@ To make provisions for quasi Judicial machinery to
control marketing.

4. DEFINITIONs
Consumer
Consumer means any “person” who hires or avails of any services
for a consideration which has been paid or promised or partly paid
and partly promised and includes any beneficiary of such services .
Complaints
Complaint means
1) a consumer or
2) any voluntary consumer association registered under
companies act,1956 or
3) One or more consumers
who or which makes complaint, it means “any
allegation, in writing made by a complainant that the services
hired or availed of or agreed to be hired or availed of by him suffer
from deficiency in any respect.

5. Consumer disputes Redressal
Agencies (sec 9)
Redressal Forums have been
established at three different levels.
1) District Forum
2) State commission
3) National Commission

6. District Forum (Sec10 to 15)
This shall consist of:
a) a person who is, or has been or is qualified
to be a District Judge, its President
b) Two other members shall be persons of
ability, integrity and have adequate
knowledge or experience or have shown
capacity in dealing with problems relating to
economics, law and commerce, one of whom
shall be a woman.

7. Appointment of members
• Every member of the district forum shall be
appointment by the State Government on the
recommendation of a selection commission.
• Every member of the district forum shall hold
office for a period of five years upto the age of 65
years which ever is earlier
• The member shall not be eligible for re-
appointment.
• The state Government shall prescribe the terms
and condition of service of the members and
their remeneration.

8. Jurisdiction
The district Forum shall entertain where
1) The value of goods or services and the
compensation, if any claimed does not exceed
rupees five lakhs.
2) where any of the opposite parties, actually and
voluntarily resides or carries on business or has a
branch office or personally works for gain within
its local limits.
3)Where the cause of action, wholly or partly,
arises within its local limits.

9. Manner of making complaint
The following persons may file a complaint
with the District Forum in relation to the
goods or services
1) The consumer concerned
2) Any recognized consumer association
where such consumer is a member or not
3) One or more consumer where there are
number of consumers having the same
interest.
4) Central or State Government.

10. Procedure on receipt of complaints
I ) Procedures in respect of complaints relating to goods
a) Copy of the complaint to the opposite party
A copy of the complaint shall be given to the
opposite party directing him to give his reply in a
period of 30 days as extended by another period not
exceeding 15 days.
b) Reply of the opposite party
Where the opposite part denies or disputes the
allegation or omits or fails tom represent the case ,
the district forum shall proceed to settle the consume
disputes. In the following manner

11. i) Analysis or test of Goods
Where the defects in the goods can not be
determined without proper analyse or test,
district forum can obtain a Sample of goods and
send it to the appropriate laboratory. The
appropriate laboratory shall be directed to
analyze the sample and report its findings within
a period of 55 days or as may be granted by the
District Forum

12. ii) Fees for analyze
Before sending any sample the appropriate
laboratory for analysis or test the forum shall
collect from the complaint the required fees
and remit the same to the appropriate
laboratory for carrying out the necessary
analysis or test

13. c) Report of the appropriate laboratory
1) On receipt of report from the appropriate
laboratory the district Forum can forward a copy
of it to the opposite party
2) If any of the parties Disputes the correctness of
the report, they shall submit their objection in
writing to the District Forum
3) The District Forum shall issue an appropriate
order on the objection raised by the parties after
giving them a reasonable opportunity of being
heard.

14. II) Procedures in respect of complaints relating to
goods for o which the above proceeding cannot be
followed and in respect of services
a)Copy of complaint the opposite party
A copy of the complaint shall be
given to the opposite party directing
him to give his reply in a period of 30
days as extended by another period
not exceeding 15 days.

15. b) Reply of the opposite party
Where the opposite party denies or
disputes the allegations or omits or
fails to represent his case, the district
forum shall proceed

16. To settle the customer dispute in the
following manner:
1) Where the opposite party denies or
disputes the allegations the district forum
shall settle the dispute on the basis of
evidence given by the complainant as well as
the opposite party
2) Where the opposite party omits or fails to
make a reply, the district forum shall settle the
dispute on the basis of evidence given by the
complainant.

17. CONCLUSION
 The consumer Protection Act, 1986 provides for
greater protection of consumer interest
 It imposes Strict liability on business including
endorsers for violating the interest of the consumers.