A Brief Analysis of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 Ethan Steve Consumer protection Sun, Jul 02, 2023, at ,01:39 PM CPA is a law enacted in 1986 in India to provide a legal framework for safeguarding consumer interests against unfair trade practices and exploitation.DefinitionsThe Consumer Protection Act, 1986 provides clear definitions of important terms related to consumer protection. Some key definitions include: a. Consumer: It refers to any person who purchases goods or services for personal use or for use by others. b. Complaint: It refers to any allegation made by a consumer regarding deficiencies in goods or services. c. Deficiency: It refers to any fault, imperfection, or inadequacy in the quality, nature, or manner of performance of goods or services. d. Unfair Trade Practice: It includes any deceptive or fraudulent practice, false representation, or misleading advertisement.The Consumer Protection Act 1986 says that it is a law meant for preserving the rights of the consumers and resolving their disputes faster as and when they arise. This law allows for the establishment of an authoritative body called the Central Consumer Protection Authority or CCPA.CCPA body examines the unfair practices in trade and advertisements that provide misleading information, and other such illegal or unethical aspects. It shall take necessary actions and/or provide apt solutions to address grievances arising out of such practices.The Rights of the ConsumerAccording to the Consumer Protection Act definition, consumers are given specific rights and obligations that they can exercise as well as have to abide by regularly. There are six broad consumer rights defined as per the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. These are: Right to Safety The Consumer Protection Act defines this right as a protection against goods and services that are ‘hazardous to life and property’. This particularly applies to medicines, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs & automobiles. The right requires all such products of critical nature to life and property to be carefully tested and validated before being marketed to the consumer. Right to Information This right mentions the need for consumers to be informed about the quality and quantity of goods being sold. They must be informed about the price of the product and have access to other information specific to the product that they wish to consume. Right to Choose The consumer must have the right to choose between different products at competitive prices. Thus, the concept of a competitive market where many sellers sell similar products must be established to ensure that the consumer can choose what to consume and in what quantity. This is to avoid monopoly in the market. Right to Seek Redressal When a consumer feels exploited, he/she has the right to approach a consumer court to file a complaint. A consumer court is a forum that hears the complaint and provides justice to the party that has been hurt. Thus, if the consumer feels he/she has been exploited, they can approach the court using this right. Right to be Heard The purpose of this right is to ensure that the consumer gets due recognition in consumer courts or redressal forums. Basically, when a consumer feels exploited, he has the right to approach a consumer court to voice his complaint. This right gives him/her due respect that his/her complaint will be duly heard. The right empowers consumers Consumer to fearlessly voice their concerns and seek justice in case they are exploited. Right to Education Consumers must be aware of their rights and must have access to enough information while making consumption decisions. Such information can help them to choose what to purchase, how much to purchase and at what price. Many consumers in India are not even aware that they are protected by the Act. Unless they know, they cannot seek justice when they are hurt or exploited.ConclusionThe Consumer Protection Act (CPA) is an important piece of legislation that aims to protect the rights and interests of consumers in India. It allows the consumers to be less ignorant of their rights and create a mechanism for redressal if they are exploited by sellers, retailers, or manufacturers in the market.The act has provisions for punishing traders and service providers who engage in unfair trade practices or exploitation of consumers.The recent amendment of the CPA in 2019 has strengthened the act further, making it more comprehensive and effective. The act has played a significant role in promoting fair competition and creating a level playing field for consumers in the Indian marketplace.References Rajanikanth, M, Consumerism: A study on the Evolution of the Consumer Movement. Indian Journal of Marketing Rao, M, Public Utility Services Under the Consumer Protection Act. Deep and Deep Publications, New Delhi. 1999 Chatterjee, A. and Sahoo, S. “Consumer Protection: Problems and Prospects”, Postmodern Openings Singh, S.S. &ChadahSapna, Consumer Protection in India (Some Reflections), Consultancy Project on Consumer Protection and Welfare, IIPA, New Delhi,2008. By: Ethan Rodrigues