Page 249 - DMGT306_MERCANTILE_LAWS_II

Mercantile Laws – II Gopika Juneja, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 13: Consumer Protection Act

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction

13.1 Genesis of Consumer Protection Laws
13.2 Objectivity and the Definitions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986
13.3 Consumer Protection Councils

13.4 Redressal Machinery under the Act
13.5 Nature and Scope of Remedies under the Act
13.6 Summary
13.7 Keywords
13.8 Review Questions

13.9 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:

 Explain objective of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986
 Define consumer rights
 Discuss the meaning of consumer
 Discuss commercial purposes
 Elaborate on district forum

 Elaborate on State Consumer Protection Council
 Explain Central Consumer Protection Council
 Describe various offences and penalty under the Act

Introduction

The Consumer Protection Act (referred to hereafter as the CPA or “the Act”) intends to regulate
the marketing of goods and services to consumers, as well as the relationships, transactions and
agreements between the consumers and the producers, suppliers, distributors, importers,
retailers, service providers and intermediaries of those goods and services. The purpose of the
Act is to promote and advance the social and economic welfare of consumers. Most entities,
supplying goods and services, as well as the transactions they enter into with consumers will be
governed by the Act. The preamble to the Act identifies the need to ensure accessible, transparent
and efficient redress for consumers who are subjected to abuse or exploitation in the marketplace.
You buy a new bike for your daughter as a birthday gift. When she tries it in the park three
weeks later, you both notice the front tire is bent. What do you do? Should you fix it yourself and
avoid the trouble of going back to the store? Has the return time lapsed? Is the bike it still
covered under warranty? What do you if you didn’t purchase extra insurance coverage?

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