Question

Enumerate the various acts passed by the government of India which helps in protection of consumer interest.

Answer 1

The Indian legal framework consists of a number of regulations which provide protection to consumers. Some of these regulations are as under

(i) The Consumer Protection Act, 1986

The Act provides safeguards to consumers against defective goods, deficient services, unfair trade practices etc.

(ii) The Contract Act, 1982

The Act lays down the conditions in which the promises made by parties to a contract will be binding on each other.

(iii) The Sale of Goods Act, 1930

The Act provides some safeguards and reliefs to the buyers of the goods in case, the goods purchased do not comply with express or implied conditions or warranties.

(iv) The Essential Commodities Act, 1955

The Act aims at controlling, I (reduction, supply, distribution and price of essential commodities.

(v) The Agricultural Produce Act, 1937

The Act prescribes grade standards for agricultural commodities and livestock products.

(vi) The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954

The Act aims to check adulteration of foods articles and ensure their purity, so as to prevent public health.

(vii)The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976

It provides protection to consumers against the malpractice of under-weight or under-measure.

(viii) The Trade Marks Act, 1999

The Act prevents the use of fraudulent marks on products and thus provides protection to the consumers against such products.

(ix) The Competition Act, 2002

The Act provides protection to the consumers in case of practices adopted by business firms which hamper competition in the market.

(x) The Bureau of Indian Standard Act, 1986

The bureau has two major activities : formulation of quality standards for goods and their certification through the BIS certification scheme. The bureau has also set up a grievance cell, where consumers can make a complaint about quality of products carrying the ISI mark.