Over 3.20 lakh cases on consumer disputes disposed in last three years

Consumer Commissions have disposed 3,20,754 cases on consumer disputes, as matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements are increasing in India.

The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey in Lok Sabha informed.

He informed under the provisions of existing Consumer Protection Act, 2019, a three-tier quasi-judicial mechanism, called Consumer Commission, has been established at the District, State and National levels to provide simple, inexpensive and speedy redressal to consumer disputes.

In addition to legislative measures, Department of Consumer Affairs runs a National Consumer Helpline along with Zonal Consumer Helplines in regional languages to deal with consumer grievances.

To further strengthen the consumer protection and rights, an executive agency called the Central Consumer Protection Authority has been established as per the provisions of CP Act, 2019 to regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of public and consumers and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.

In addition, provisions have been made in the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 for mediation as an alternate dispute resolution mechanism, product liability, making of rules by the Central Government to regulate unfair trade practices in e-commerce and direct selling, penalty for adulteration of products and manufacture/sale of spurious goods.

The department also runs a countrywide multimedia “Consumer Awareness” campaign titled ‘Jago Grahak Jago” on various issues related to consumer rights and responsibilities across diverse subjects.