Recent Judgements under Consumer Protection Act Akansha Tripathi Recent Judgments Thu, Apr 13, 2023, at ,04:34 PM IntroductionConsumer protection is the activity of defending customers from unethical company practises. It outlines the steps taken to protect consumers against dishonest and unethical commercial practises by retailers, producers, service providers, etc., and to give remedies in the case that their legal rights as consumers have been violated.The administration of consumer rights protection in India is governed by the Consumer Protection Act of 2019. The Consumer Protection Act of 2019 was put forth to take the place of the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. Numerous features in the revised Act take into account the challenges confronted by today's technologically dependent consumers. The Act also contains a number of provisions designed to advance and protect consumer rights.Objectives of Consumer Protection ActThe Act's primary goals are to safeguard consumer interests and create a reliable, effective procedure for resolving consumer complaints. The Act intends to: Prevent the marketing of goods that pose a risk to human life or property. To protect consumers from unfair business practices, provide information about the potency, amount, standard, purity, and pricing of the items. Create Consumer Protection Councils to safeguard customers' rights and interests. Whenever feasible, guarantee that customers may access a trusted source for affordable goods. Speak out against unethical business practices or consumer exploitation. Horlicks Ltd. v. Zydus Wellness Products Ltd. (2020)In this instance, both parties are nutritious drink makers, but Zydus promoted a television advertising that denigrated Horlicks Ltd.'s goods. English, Tamil, and Bengali were just a few of the languages used to broadcast the advertisement. The Delhi High Court concluded that the advertisement is defamatory because it offers no specific evidence of the product's quality, citing numerous decisions on defamation, misleading advertising, and the law restricting the publishing of advertisements on television. Furthermore, because viewers' thoughts are imprinted by electronic media, these kinds of commercials would be harmful not only to consumers but also to the complaint, who would sustain permanent harm. In Pepsi Co. Inc. v. Hindustan Coca-Cola Ltd., 2003, the Delhi High Court held that there are some crucial considerations to be made in cases of disparagement, including the manner of the commercial, its intended audience, and its plot. This case is based on this famous decision.Veena Khanna v. Ansal Properties & Industries Ltd, NCDRC (2007)In this instance, the respondent agreed in writing to deliver the flat the complainant had offered to buy from him on January 6, 1999. The flat, however, was not delivered because it was not built by the deadline. The complainant requested a refund of the deposit amount with interest at a rate of 18% per annum for such a failure in services, but the other party refused. The National Commission noted that it is highly challenging for a consumer to buy a flat at market pricing because of delays in building and delivery of possession. The National Commission ruled that the State Commission must order the builders to hand over the keys to the unit as soon as it is finished, and that the complainant must receive fair compensation for the construction delay. The complaint only requested the refund amount from the State Commission, but the matter was on hold there for five years while the market value of the real estate significantly increased. The National Commission ruled that the State Commission must order the builders to hand over the keys to the unit as soon as it is finished, and that the complainant must receive fair compensation for the construction delay. The complaint only requested the refund amount from the State Commission, but the matter was on hold there for five years while the market value of the real estate significantly increased.ConclusionThe Consumer Protection Act, 2019, is a revised piece of legislation that grants customers a wide range of advantages and rights to safeguard them against unfair business practices, false or misleading advertising, etc. In order for the parties to choose a quick and efficient resolution of consumer disputes, the Act empowers the consumers to seek out alternative dispute resolution processes and mediation.Additionally, the Act added new concepts like product liability and unfair contracts, broadening the area of protection for consumer rights and enabling consumers to submit complaints when those rights have been infringed.