Protecting Consumer Rights Through Consumer Laws

Consumers are the most important part of every economy for zero demand would lead the economy to collapse. Nowadays, cheating on consumers has become a common practice followed by greedy manufacturers and sellers by the way of black marketing, overcharging, misleading ads, etc. These circumstances make it all the more important for the government to make the consumers aware of their rights.

Consumer Rights

• Right to information

  The consumer has every right have information about the quantity, quality, price, purity, and standards of the product.

• Right to safety

  The consumer should be safeguarded against goods hazardous to property and life.

• Right to choose

  The customer should be provided access to different options at competitive rates. There should not, however, be any pressure to inflict a sale.

• Right to be heard

  This right assures the consumer that his problems would be given due consideration at the respective forums.

• Right to seek redressal 

  This right helps consumers get assistance against any kind of exploitation or unreasonable trade practice.

• Right to education

  Most importantly, every consumer has the right to be well-informed about his rights as a consumer.

Protecting Consumer Rights

The consumer law in India proffers appropriate rules and regulations aimed at consumer protection in India. Besides, consumer protection is also possible through the following four methods:

• Consumer self-help

• It is essential for the customer to stay alert. He/she should make himself/herself well informed about his rights as the consumer so that any deceitful businessman is not able to cheat him/her.

• Business self-regulation

  Self-discipline is the best discipline. The business community can standardize their own actions and behavior by following better ethical standards. Moreover, trade associations can keep a check on iniquitous trade practices done by any businessman.

• Consumers’ association

  Consumers can form their own association to educate and arouse the consumers. Also, these associations should be able to take due actions as well as pressurize businessmen to follow fair trade practice.

• Government regulations

  Government regulations play the most important role in consumer protection in India. The State has all the powers to ensure consumer protection through executive, legislative, and judicial procedures. The Government executive should strictly enforce the laws proffered by the Government to protect the interests and rights of the consumer.

The consumer law in India was introduced in 1986 as ‘The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 1986’. The act included all the necessary rules and regulations to provide remedies to a consumer who has been cheated upon by deceitful businessmen. A few of these are mentioned below:

• Removal of paucity in service or defect in the product sold.

• Replacing defective product with a new one featuring similar description. This replaced product ought to be free from any defects.

• Repaying the cost incurred on the consumer.

• Compensating for any kind of injury or loss suffered by the consumer due to the product or service provided.

• Discontinuation of unfair and restrictive trade practices.

• Withdrawal of perilous goods from being sold and make sure that they are not sold in future as well.