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Unit 13: Consumer Protection Act

Banks valid query in this connection and the RBI took time to grant the necessary permission to Notes
make the remittance.

Task What do you understand by consumer disputes?

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
7. The complaints can be made when the article purchased by the ………………… is defective.

8. Full form of DCPC is ……………………………
9. Complaints can be registered within ……… from the date on which the cause of action has
arisen.

13.3 Consumer Protection Councils

The interests of consumers are sought to be promoted and protected under the Act inter alia by
establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the Central, State and District Levels.
Chapter II of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 comprising Sections 4 to 8 deals with Consumer
Protection Councils.

Central Consumer Protection Council

Section 4 empowers the Central Government to establish a Council to be known as the Central
Consumer Protection Council (hereinafter referred to as the Central Council), consisting of the
Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs in the Central Government, as its Chairman, and such
number of other official or nonofficial members representing such interests as may be prescribed.
However, the Consumer Protection Rules, 1987 restrict the number of members of the Central
Council to 150 members.
Section 5 of the Act requires the Central Council to meet as and when necessary, but at least once
in every year. The procedure in regard to transaction of its business at the meeting is given in
Rule 4 of the Rules.

State Consumer Protection Council

Section 7 provides for the establishment of State Consumer Protection Councils by any State
Government (by notification) to be known as Consumer Protection Council for (name of the
State). The State Council shall consist of a Minister incharge of Consumer Affairs in the State
Government as its Chairman and such number of other official or non-official members
representing such interests as may be prescribed by the State Government and such number of
other official or non official members, not exceeding ten, as may be nominated by the Central
Government. The State Council shall meet as and when necessary but not less than two meetings
shall be held every year. The procedure to be observed in regard to the transaction of its
business at such meetings shall be prescribed by the State Government.

District Consumer Protection Council

In order to promote and protect the rights of the consumers within the district, section 8A
provides for establishment in every district of a council to be known as the District Consumer

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