Question

What are the salient features of consumer protection act?

Answer 1

Salient features of consumer protection act are as follows:

• Coverage of Items:
  

This Act is applicable on all the products and services, until or unless any product or service is especially debarred out of the scope of this Act by the Central Government.

• Coverage of Sectors:
  

This Act is applicable to all the areas whether private, public or cooperative.

• Compensatory Nature of Provisions:
  

Many Acts have been passed for the help of consumers. Consumers enjoy the benefits of these Acts but if a consumer wishes the Consumer Protection Act can provide extra help. As a result, the nature of provisions of this Act is compensating for the loss or providing extra help. The consumer is totally free to enjoy the benefits provided in the Act.

• Group of Consumer’s Rights:
  

This Act provides many rights to consumers. These rights are related to safety, information, choice, representation, redressal, education etc.

• Effective Safeguards:
  

This Act provides safety to consumers regarding defective products, dissatisfactory services, and unfair trade practices. So under the purview of this Act, there is a provision to ban all those activities which can cause a risk for the consumer.

• Three-tier Grievances Redressal Machinery:
  

Consumer courts have been established so that consumers can enjoy their rights. This Act presents Three- tier Grievances Redressal Machinery:

(i) At District Level-District Forum

(ii) At State Level -State Commission

(iii) At National Level – National Commission.