The main idea behind this enactment act is to protect the consumers from all ongoing unfair trading and malpractices in the market. Almost all the commercial organization are well versed and well trained with the market condition so surely they are in the good dominating condition and use it to take the adventure of the consumer. To avoid this exploitation this act is a marker in the history of social-economic legislation and this matter has been regarded as the most comprehensive, progressive, and rare piece of legislation.
The main purpose of this act is to provide for the speedy and easy justice, unlike other existing laws which are punishing and preventive in nature. It is the major responsibility of the government to ensuring the consumer about their benefit so for that the consumer protection act was introduced.
- Right to Safety:
According to this right the consumers have the right to protect themselves against the selling of goods and services which are risky to life and property, this right is essential for a safe and secure life. This right includes the customer’s long-term interest as well as for their present requirement.
Some manufacturing defects by the respective company in a pressure cooker or in a gas cylinder or in other electrical appliances, it can a threat to life, property, and health of customers. Thus it increases the important of ‘Right to safety’.
- Right to Information:
By this right, a consumer has the right to get the correct information about the products quantity, quality, standard, purity and the price of goods or services. The producer or manufacturer must have to unveil all the relevant information about the product to the consumer.
- Right to Choice:
This right states that a consumer, he/she has the right to select or choose the services or the goods that he/she needs or likes. The right to choose means an assurance of ability, availability, and approach to a variety of different products, services at competitive prices by different providers and this competitive price means ‘just’ or ‘fair’ price.
The producer or supplier or retailer have no right to force the customer to buy a particular brand product only. The consumer is free to select or choose the most suitable product from his/her point of view.
- Right to be Heard or Right to Representation:
This right states that the consumer has the right to represent him or to be heard or right to defend his/her interest. In case a consumer has been exploited or has any objection to the service or product then he/she has the right to be heard and be sure that his/her interest would receive due consideration. Under this right, the companies must have separate cells to listen and attend all the complaints of their customers.
- Right to Seek Redressal:
This right states that the consumer has the right to get seek or compensation redressal against exploitation or any other unfair trade practices. This right assures justice to the consumer against exploitation. Various redressal forums are made by the govt at the national level and at the state levels.
It includes the compensation any form either in money or by the replacement of goods or for repairing of defects of the goods as per the satisfaction of the customer.
- Right to Consumer Education:
The govt of India has included the consumer education in school curriculum and in various other university courses. Government is working in the direction to spread the awareness about the consumer’s rights so they could their money wisely and help the economy to grow.
Case: Kanta Bhakta, Mumbai V/s A Jeweller in Dadar, Mumbai
Kanta Bhakta, on 18th March, 11, she brought a pair of bangles and one single-bangle from a jeweller’s shop in Dadar, a place in Mumbai. These bangles were claimed to be with 22-carat gold purity and as per that she was charged in addition to the making charges. The bangles were then kept in the locker. On Diwali in 2010 and at a marriage of their relative, her daughter wore the bangles. Coincidently, this complainant came out after an X-ray gold-testing, by Tanishq Jewellers. X-ray gold-testing is done for checking the purity of gold and it is also a non-destructing method. For curiosity, she made a test for the bangles and then she found that these were of not even 17 carats but lesser. Shaken up by the results, she then immediately went that jeweller, along with the cash memo and the bangles. He denied the complaint made and made her all efforts for reasoning in vain. At last, she reached the CFBP who then drafted her complaint by its Legal Cell, in order to file it in the Consumer Court. A legal notice was then sent to that jeweller and was the last chance for him to settle the matter before the Consumer court took the charge.
Read more details Consumer Protection ACT, 1986
By Megha Chhabaria
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