Q. 2. What are the rights of consumer?
Ans: In theory consumer is king but in practice he is cheated and exploited by various business malpractices. Hence, the government passed consumer protection Act in 1986. The Act provide following right to consumers:
1) Right to choose: As per this right consumer is free to purchase any product as per his choice. Likes, dislikes and requirements of all consumers are not same. When a consumer purchases any product as per his choice then he gets maximum satisfaction Consumer can enjoy this right when wide choice of products is available in the market. Wide choice of products is possible when different manufacturers produce gentler products. Thus, this right promotes competition and removes monopoly in the market.
2) Right to safety: This right suggests that consumer should be protected against products, production processes and services which are dangerous to his health. Goods like electrical products, automobiles, toys, medicines, food products, etc. require assurance from traders and manufacturers regarding their safety and security. For this, quality control and safety rules should be introduced by the government.
3) Right to be informed: As per this right consumer should be given information about the product like price, name of the manufacturer, date of manufacturing, date of expiry of the product he wants to buy. Such information can be given on the package of the product. The information given should be correct and reliable. It should not be false or misleading. This right helps to avoid cheating and exploitation of consumer.
4) Right to be heard: As per this right the consumer should be given an opportunity to express his views, suggestions, difficulties and complaints about the product he uses. This right benefits both the consumer as well as the manufacturer. It gives psychological satisfaction to consumers and helps the manufacturer to rectify the manufacturing defect in the product.
5) Right to redress: Many a times a consumer finds that the product sold to him is not as per the assurance given by the seller regarding the quality, colour and durability of the product. In this case the consumer has a right to get the product replaced, repaired or get his money back.
6) Right to consumer education: The main aim of this right is to make the consumer well-informed, alert and cautious. So that he will make rational decisions regarding purchase of goods. As per this right consumer should be educated about:
- i) Current trends and marketing policies in business.
ii) Agencies where complaint can be made.
iii) Changes made in laws affecting consumer's interest. Such education can be given to consumer through Television.
7) Right to have healthy environment: A consumer has right to have clean and healthy environment. The pollution created by speedy industrialization affects the environment adversely. The businessmen cannot carry out business activities at the cost of consumer. As per this right the business organizations should take all possible Steps to control the environmental pollution and to protect and improve the environment for the present and future generation.
8) Flight to basic needs: Food, clothing and shelter are the basic needs of consumer in addition consumer needs like health and education services as to maintain minimum standard of living As per this right business organizations should utilize the available natural resources first to produce those goods and services which satisfy basic needs of consumers In other words production of necessary goods and the need of common people should be given primary importance than production of luxury goods and the need rich people.
What are the features of Consumer Protection Act, 1986?
Ans: In theory consumer is considered as king but in practice he is cheated and exploited by seller by various business malpractices Hence, in order to pretest the consumer, the central government passed an Act in December 1986 which is known as Consumer Protection Act 1986. Following are the main features of Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
1) Objective: The main objective of Consumer Protection Act is to protect the consumers from various business malpractices such as cornering of goods, adulteration publishing misleading advertisement and so on.
2) Consumer rights: The Act recognizes six basic rights of consumers Such as:
- (i) Right to choose.
(ii) Right to safety.
(iii) Right to redress.
(iv) Right to be informed.
(v) Right to he heard.
(vi) Right to consumer education.
3) Consumer councils: The Act makes provision for the establishment of Central Consumer Protection Council at central level and State Consumer Protection Council at State level for protecting and promoting consumer’s rights.
4) Redressal agencies: The Act also makes provision for the establishment of consumer disputes redressal agencies for simple and speedy redressal of consumer complaint. These agencies include District forum, State commission, and National commission.
5) Applicability: The Act is applicable to all private sectors, public sectors and even co-operative sectors.
6) Direct complaint: The Act gives power to any consumer to make complaint directly. A consumer can approach the concerned manufacturer (seller) for solving his complaint in person or through correspondence lithe complaint is not solved at this level a consumer can approach the district forum He can also make his complaint through consumer association.
7) Complaints against public enterprises: Under this Act consumer can make complaints even against public enterprises or public utility services like Railway, Telephone, National bank, LIC, GIC, etc.
8) Simple procedure: The procedure in the Act for Solving the complaints of consumer is quick and simple. A can give complain in any language i.e. English, Hindi and regional language. Stamp duty, Registration fees, etc., is not require to be paid in filing complaint.
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