CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT AND ROLE OF YOUTH

Presented by

M.SIVASUBRAMANIAN

OBJECTIVES

To Identify the consumer's rights and responsibilities.

To Explore the Features of Consumer Protection Act 1986

To Explain role of youth on consumer protection .

MAHATMA GANDHIJI

“A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work - he is the purpose of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us the opportunity to serve him.”

Who is a Consumer?

Any person who buys or hires any goods or service is a consumerexcept if he uses such goods or

service for commercial purpose.or if the goods/service provided

is free of cost, the person shall not be considered a consumer.

Consumer Protection Act In India

On 24 December 1986 Govt. of India enacted the Consumer Protection Act 1986 to:

Ensure Rights of Consumers

Provide Remedies for deceived Consumers

6

Consumer Rights

Consumer RightsSafety

education

Choose Information

Redressal

Heard

Responsibilities of ConsumerBe quality conscious and

thoroughly examine the product before purchasing it. Check the quality mark i.e.

AGMARK, ISI, BIS, etc. Ask for a guarantee card if there

is one. Insist on a cash memo which is

required as proof of purchase in case of a complaint.

Consumer Need Protection Against

Unfair trade practice

Restrictive trade practice

Defects

Deficiencies

ALERT BEFORE BUYING ANY GOODS OR SERVICE, BE SATISFIED ABOUT THE QUALITY OR QUANTITY.

MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ISSUE OF RECEIPT IS MANDATORY FOR ANY PURCHASE OF Rs.200 AND ABOVE.

IN ANY PACKAGED MATERIAL, THE MONTH & YEAR OF MANUFACTURE, NET QUANTITY or WEIGHT & M.R.P is MUST.

Salient Features Of the Act

The Act applies to all goods and services unless specially exempted by Union Government

It covers all sectors – public, private or cooperative

Provisions of the Act are compensatory in nature

Salient Features Of the Act It enshrines all consumers rights –

to choose, to be heard, to be informed, to safety, education and redressal (CHISER)

It empowers consumers seeking discontinuance of trader’s malpractices, defective goods, service deficiencies or withdrawal of hazardous goods from the market.

3-Tier Redressal AgencyThe aims and objectives of the Act

are achieved by the constitution and creation of 3-tier judicial machinery depending upon the amount of loss involved District Forum

State Commission and

National Consumer Disputes redressal Commission.

Consumer Protection Followed In IndiaLok Adalats:The Consumer can approach the

Adalat with his grievance. The issue is discussed and decision is taken on the spot. This saves time and money

Lok Adalat has become a speedy, effective and economical redressal system.

Remedies/reliefs available to consumers under the CPA

• They can have the goods replaced • They can get a price refund • They can be compensated against

loss or injury • Discontinuation of unfair or

restricted trade practices • Withdrawal/discontinue the sale of

hazardous goods • Paying adequate cost to parties • Removal of service deficiency

Penalty Under Section 27 CPA

• According to CPA ,where a trader or the complainant fails to comply with an order made by the relevant consumer forum , such person is liable to a punishment with imprisonment for a term which is not less than 1 month but which may extend to 3 years or with fine of not less than 2000 INR but which may extend to 10000 INR with both

LIMITATION

The District Forum, the State Commission or the National Commission shall not admit a complaint unless it is filed within two years from the date on which cause of action has arisen.

ISI MARK

ISI markISI mark on baby food, mineral water, electrical and cooking gas appliances, pressure cookers, cement, steel, etc.

Hall Mark

AGMARK

AG mark on the pouch/ container for purchase of pulses, rice, wheat, flour, edible oil, ghee, butter, honey, spices etc.

FPO

FPO mark on the container or packages of processed food or agricultural produces (jam, jelly, sauce, fruit juice, pickles etc.)

Swami Vivekananda National AwardEvery year the Union Ministry

gives two national awards – National Award on Consumer

Protection and

National Youth Award on Consumer Protection.

And alsoNational Woman Award

Role Of Youth

To create Awareness among the people.To help the consumers to suit or file the

case in the Consumer Courts.Explain about the consumer rights to

the people.Encouraging consumers to boycott

defective bad quality goods.To educate the market and the product

knowledge to the consumer

National Consumer Helpline

You may call on the following toll free number

1800-11-4000 (from MTNL or BSNL)

for guidance and information on consumer issues

Remind Ourselves

24 December 24 December

National Consumer DayNational Consumer Day

15 March 15 March

World Consumer Rights World Consumer Rights DayDay

CONCLUSION

As a youth, to generate awareness among the consumers about their rights and responsibilities , motivate them to assert their rights and not to compromise on quality and standards of goods and services and seek redressal in consumer courts , when ever required.

References

• Business and Environmental law – R.V.Kapoor

• http://india.gov.in/• http://www.sethassociates.com• http://fcamin.nic.in• www.boardguess.com• www.download-book.net

Thank you