Indraprastha INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Sector-10, Dwarka, New Delhi-110075

Subject:- Business Studies
Importance of Consumer Protection:- Chapter-12 Consumer Rights under The Consumer
From Consumer’s point of view- Consumer Protection Protection Act, 1986 :-
• Consumer ignorance
• Right to Safety
• Unorganised consumers Ways and Means of Consumer Protection :-
• Right to be Informed
• Widespread exploitation of consumers • Self Regulation by Business • Right to Choose
• Business Associations • Right to be Heard
From the point of view of Business- • Consumer Awareness • Right to seek Redressal
• Long-term interest of business • Consumer Organisations • Right to Consumer Education
• Business uses society’s resources • Government
• Social responsibility
• Moral justification Consumer Responsibilities :-
• Government intervention • Be aware about various goods and services
available in the market
• Buy only standardised goods as the provide
Legal Protection To Consumers:- Consumer Protection :-
quality assurance
Consumer protection is a group of • Learn about the risks associated with
• The Consumer Protection Act, 1986
laws and organizations designed to products and services
• The Indian Contract Act, 1872 ensure the rights of consumers, as • Read labels carefully
• The Sale of Goods Act, 1930 well as fair trade, competition, and • Assert yourself to ensure that you get a fair
• The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 accurate information in
deal
• The Agricultural Produce (Grading and the marketplace.
• Be honest in your dealings
Marking) Act, 1937
• Ask for a cash memo on purchase of goods
• The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act,
or services
1954
• File a complaint in an appropriate
• The Standards of Weights and Measures Act,
Redressal Agencies under the Consumer consumer forum in case of a shortcoming
1976
Protection Act :- in the quality of goods purchased or
• The Trade Marks Act, 1999 services availed
• The Competition Act, 2002 • National Commission • Form consumer societies which would play
• The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 • State Commission an active part in educating consumers and
• District Forum safeguarding their interests
• Respect the environment
Role of Consumer Organisations and NGOs :- Who can file a complaint?
Relief Available to Consumers:-
• Educating the general public about consumer • Any consumer
rights by organising training programmes, • Any registered consumer’s association • To remove the defect in goods or deficiency in service
seminars and workshops • The Central Government or any State • To replace the defective product with a new one, free
• Publishing periodicals and other publications Government from any defect
to impart knowledge about consumer • One or more consumers, on behalf of • To refund the price paid for the product, or the charges
problems, legal reporting, reliefs available numerous consumers having the same paid for the service
and other matters of interest interest • To pay a reasonable amount of compensation for any
• Carrying out comparative testing of consumer • A legal heir or representative of a deceased loss or injury suffered by the consumer due to the
products in accredited laboratories to test consumer negligence of the opposite party
relative qualities of competing brands and • To pay punitive damages in appropriate circumstances
publishing the test results for the benefit of • To discontinue the unfair / restrictive trade practice and
consumers not to repeat in the future
• Encouraging consumers to strongly protest • Not to offer hazardous goods for sale
and take an action against unscrupulous, • To withdraw the hazardous goods from sale
exploitative and unfair trade practices of • To cease manufacture of hazardous goods and to desist
sellers Consumer :- from offering hazardous services
• Providing legal assistance to consumers by • To pay any amount to be credited to the Consumer
way of providing aid, legal advice, etc in A consumer is a person who
purchases goods and services for Welfare Fund or any other organisation / person, to be
seeking legal remedy utilised in the prescribed manner
• Filing complaints in appropriate consumer personal use.
• To issue corrective advertisement to neutralise the
courts on behalf of the consumers effect of a misleading advertisement
• Taking an initiative in filing cases in • To pay adequate costs to the appropriate party
consumer courts in the interest of the general
public, not for any individual

Some of the important consumer organisations and NGOs engaged in protecting and promoting consumers’ interests:- • Karnataka Consumer Service Society,
• Consumer Coordination Council, Delhi
Bangalore
• Common Cause, Delhi • Consumers’ Association, Kolkata
• Voluntary Organisation in Interest of Consumer Education (VOICE), Delhi • Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS),
• Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad Jaipur
• Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Ahmedabad
• Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI), Mumbai
• Mumbai Grahak Panchayat, Mumbai