Answer:
Consumers are often exploited through adulteration, short weights and measures, high prices, misleading advertisements, defective goods and poor services. To protect them, the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was passed and replaced by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
- The Act gives consumers six rights: safety, information, choice, to be heard, redressal and consumer education.
- It sets up a three-tier quasi-judicial machinery (District, State and National Commissions) for speedy, simple and inexpensive redressal of complaints.
- It established the Central Consumer Protection Authority to act against unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements.
- It covers e-commerce, provides product liability and allows complaints to be filed electronically from the consumer’s place of residence.
Thus, the Act was passed in the interest of consumers.
