Consumer Rights and Awareness

What are the rights of the Consumer ?



STATUTORY RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS


TheConsumer Protection Act, 1986 guarantees the following statutory rights to the consumers-



1. The right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property: To simplify this it can be said that it is the duty of the manufacturers and the distributor not to supply any goods to the consumers which fails to comply with the general safety requirements in all circumstances. It is important to know that safety standards are published from time to time by the relevant authorities in relation to many types of consumer goods.

2. The right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services, as the case may be, so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices; by simplifying this right it can be said that consumers are given the right to information. This is intended to save the consumers from unfair trade practices like false and misleading descriptions about the nature and quality of goods, exaggerated statements about their power or potency, for example, that the hair oil is capable of promoting hair growth or preventing hair loss where there is no such power to an appreciable extent. It may be noted that a victim of unfair trade practices would be able to come before a Consumer Forum only if he is a consumer within the meaning of the Act. Other buyers would have to go to the Monopolies Commission under MRTP Act.

3. The right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices; For the convenience of the consumers the Central Council has been charged with the responsibility of bringing about the organization of markets and market practices in such a way that all dealers are supplied with a variety of goods for the benefit of the consumers and that the goods with a variety are being offered at competitive prices. It is only...