Consumer Rights and the Consumer Protection Councils

In one line

The six consumer rights are declared by the Act, and three tiers of Council exist to advise on promoting and protecting them.

In the wording a student can write in an exam: section 2(9) declares six consumer rights; sections 3 to 5 establish the Central Consumer Protection Council, an advisory council chaired by the Minister-in-charge of the Department of Consumer Affairs, whose object is to render advice on the promotion and protection of consumer rights and which must meet at least once a year; sections 6 and 7 establish the State Councils, and sections 8 and 9 the District Councils chaired by the Collector, each advisory and each required to meet at least twice a year.

The six consumer rights: section 2(9)

1. The right to be protected against the marketing of goods, products or services which are hazardous to life and property.

2. The right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods, products or services, so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices.

3. The right to be assured, wherever possible, of access to a variety of goods, products or services at competitive prices.

4. The right to be heard and to be assured that consumers' interests will receive due consideration at appropriate fora.

5. The right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices, restrictive trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers.

6. The right to consumer awareness.

These are the rights the whole Act exists to serve, and an answer on any part of Module IV is improved by naming them.

The Central Council: sections 3, 4 and 5

Section 3. The Central Government shall by notification establish the Central Consumer Protection Council, known as the Central Council. It is an advisory council and consists of the Minister-in-charge of the Department of Consumer Affairs in the Central Government as Chairperson, and such number of other official or non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed.

Section 4. It shall meet as and when necessary, but at least one meeting shall be held every year, at such time and place as the Chairperson thinks fit, and shall observe such procedure as may be prescribed.

Section 5. Its objects are to render advice on the promotion and protection of the consumers' rights under the Act.

The State Councils: sections 6 and 7

Section 6. Every State Government shall by notification establish a State Consumer Protection Council, known as the State Council, which is an advisory council, with the Minister-in-charge of consumer affairs in the State Government as Chairperson and such other members as may be prescribed, including such number of official or non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed and such number of members from the Central Government as may be prescribed. It shall meet as and when necessary but not less than two meetings shall be held every year.