Question

Mention some of the rights of consumers and write a few sentences on each.

Answer 1

Some of the rights of the Consumers are mentioned below.

1. Right to represent
2. Right to be informed
3. Right to Choose
4. Right to Seek Redressal

Right to Seek Redressal

• To protect consumers from exploitation and to protect them against unfair trade practices, consumers in India are given the right to redressal.
• Depending on the degree of damage, a consumer has the right to get compensation.
• Hence there is a need to give an effective public system and a system which is easy to get things done.
• Separate departments of Consumer Affairs were established in state and central governments after enacting the Consumer Protection Act (COPRA).
• Consumer protection councils or consumer forums will guide consumers on how to file cases in consumer courts.

Right to Represent

• Under COPRA there is a 3-tier quasi judicial machinery at the central level, state level and district level to protect the rights of consumers.
• On many occasions, the consumer forums or consumer protection councils also represent the individual consumers in consumer courts.
• If a case of a consumer is dismissed in district level court, then the consumer has the right to appeal in state and national level courts.
• For cases involving claims exceeding Rs 1 crore, the National level court will deal with them.
• For cases involving claims between Rs 1 crore and Rs 20 Lakhs, the State Level Courts will deal with them.
• For cases involving claims upto Rs 20 lakhs, district courts will deal with them.
• Thus the Right to Represent in courts is given to the consumers by the COPRA Act.

Right to be Informed

• As the consumers have the right to be informed about the particulars of services and goods that they purchase, manufacturers must display information about the product or service as per the rules.

Right to Choose

• Regardless of nature of service, gender and age any consumer who receives a service in whatever capacity, has the Right to choose whether to end the services or continue receiving the services.
• Due to the customer’s right to choose no one can force any customer to buy things and thereby cannot prevent the consumers right to choose.