CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT1986

PRESENTED BY KUMAR NAYAKA.L

CONSUMER-Sec2(1)(d)
Consumer means 1.A person who buys any product and services for consideration which has been paid any system of deferred payment.
2.The goods or services must have been purchased or hired for consideration which has been paid in full or part or under a system of deferred payment.

INTRODUCTION
India is a vast country where a majority of consumers are poor, helpless and discouraged. Further, the market in India is generally a sellers market and it is a very easy to dupe the innocent consumers. it is now realized that a common consumer neither knowledgeable nor well informed. he needs support and protection from unscrupulous seller. A common consumer is not in position to approach civil court.therfore the central govt enacted a law in the year 1986 for the protection of consumers known as "The Consumer Protection Act-1986.

OBJECTIVES OF ACT
To provide for better protection of interest of

consumers In order to meet the aforesaid objective, to provide for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities To empower the Consumer councils and authorities to settle consumers disputes and matters connected therewith.

RIGHTS OF CONSUMER
1.Right to consumer education:The right to consumer education is an important right available to the consumers. Information about product in the market and for the proper functioning of the legal system. It is necessary that the knowledge of the availability of a legal remedies should be so widely explained.
2.Right to safety:The consumer has a right to be protected against marketing of goods which has hazardous to life and property of the consumers.

3.Right to seek redressal:The consumer has been given the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or their unscrupulous exploitation. The consumer should have some means of redress when goods fail to live up to their promise or indeed cause injury. 4.Right to be heard:The right to be heard also includes the right to be assured that the consumer interest will receive due consideration at appropriate forums.

5.Right to choose:The right to means the right to be assured. Wherever possible, access to variety of goods and services at competitive prices. Fair and effective must be encouraged in order to provide consumers with the greatest range of choice among products and services at the lowest price. 6.Right to be information:The right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services, as the case may be, so to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices.

CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL

The consumer protection act-1986 as amended by the(Amendment)Act,2002 provides for constitution of consumer protection councils at -Central consumer protection council (sec 4 to 6) -State consumer protection council (sec 7 & 8) -District consumer protection council (sec 8A & 8B)

1.Central protection council(sec 4 to 6)

Establishment of CPC(sec-4) Sec-4 provides that the central government shall by notification establish a council to be known as the CPC(referred to as the central council)
Membership:a)The minister in charge of the consumer affairs in the central government, who shall be its chairman b)Such number of other official or non-official members representing such interest as may be prescribed.

 Procedure for meetings(sec-5)

Sec 5 of the act provides that the central council shall meet as and when necessary but at least one meeting shall be held every year . It shall meet at such time and place as the chairman may think fit and shall observe such procedure in regard to the transaction of its business as may be prescribed. Objects of CPC(sec-6) Right to be protect against the marketing of goods and service which are hazardous to life Right to informed about the quality,quantity,potency,purity,standard and price of goods and service.

 Right to be assured , wherever possible , access to

a variety of goods and services at a competitive price Right to be heard and to be assured that the consumers interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forums Right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers Right to consumer education Sec-6 of the act spells out these objectives and charges the central council with responsibility of fulfilling these objectives

State consumer protection council (sec 7&8)

Establishment(sec-7)

The state govt shall* by notification , establish with effect from such date as it may specify in such notification , a council to be known as the consumer protection council for (referred to as the state council)
Meetings:-

The state council shall meet as and when necessary but not less than 2 meetings shall be held every year.

 Memberships:-

a)Minister in charge of consumers affairs in the state govt who shall be its chairman b)Such number of other official or non official members representing such interests as may be prescribed by the govt c)Not exceeding ten, as may be nominated by the central govt.
Time and place of meetings and procedure:-

The state council shall meet at such time and place as the chairman may think fit and shall observe such procedure in regard to the transaction of its business as may be prescribed by the state government.

The District consumer protection council(sec 8A&8B)

The state govt shall establish for every district , by

notification , a council to be known as the District protection council with effect from such date as it may specify in such notification.

Members:-The collector of the district -Chairman -Such number of other official and non official members representing such interests as may be prescribed by the state government.

Meetings:-

The district council shall meet as and when necessary but not less than two meetings shall be held every year.
Objectives:-

The objective of every council shall be promote and protect within the district the rights of thee consumers.

Conclusion: The main objective of consumer protection act-1986 is

to protect customer and serve a better services to the consumers through different councils.