CHAPTER

Consumer Rights 5
NTRODUCTION
Rules and
regulations are
Consumers in
the
themselves in a weakmarketp la required for the
ce. Chapter Contents
position. Individual protection of the
Consumers often find
Whenever is
had been there a Introduction
bought, thecomplaint
to the buyer. seller triesregarding
to
a
goods or services that Consumer Moverments
shift all the
. As if
the seller has no
consumer movement isresponsi
responsibility on Consumner
Taking the
Rights
tbilittoy once
an effort a sale is
completed. The
change this situation. Movement ForwardConsumers
Explo ita tion in the
example when marketplace Assignmnent
when traders addshopkeepers weighhappens
in various
less than what ways. For
charges that were not they should or
adulteratdoed/defective goods are sold. mentioned before, or when
Market not work in a fair
powerful whereas manner when producers are few
Scattered, consumers purchase in small amounts and and
are
These companies with
manipulate the market in huge wealth, power and reach can
t passed on various ways. At times false
through the media and other information
consumers.
Hence, there is need for rules and
sources to attract

for conSumers. regulations to ensure

ONSUMER MOVEMENTS
"In India, the consumer movement as a"Social force" originated
with the necessity
of protecting and promoting the interest of
Consumersfoodagainst unethical and unfair trade practices.
Rampant
oi
food and shortages,
hoarding, black marketing, adulteration
edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an
oganised form in the 1960s.
More recently. India witnessed an upsurge in the number of
246 Consumer Rights Social Science

Because of these efforts, the movement succeeded in bringing pressure on business firms
government to correct business conduct which may be unfair and against the interest of
large.
Amajor steptaken in 1986 by the Indian government was the enactment of the
Consumer
consurnes
Act 1986, popularly known as COPRA.
Proteie
EXra ShoDs
Consumer International : In 1985, UN adopted the UN guideline for consumer protection. It
for nalion to protect consumers. was atsi

CONSUMER RIGHTS

(a) Safety: While using many goods and services, we as consumers, have the right to be protected
the marketing of goods and delivery of services that are hazardous to life and property.
Producers re
to strictly follow the required safety rules and regulations. However, we do find bad quality
the market because the supervision of these rules is weak and the consumer movement is
alsoprodusr
ro sIrs
enough.
(b) Right to be informed : Consumers have the right to be informed about the particulars cf
services that they purchase. Consumers can then complain and ask for compensation or
gods c
the product proves to be defective in any manner. replacamett
EXra ShoDs
In October 2005, the government of India enacted a law, popularly known as RTl (Right to lInformation)
act, which ensures its citizens allthe information about the government department.
(c) Right to choose: Consumers who receives a service in whatever capacity, regardless of age, gerde
and nature of services has the right to choose whether to continue to receive the services.
(d) Right toseek redressal :Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade pracices ard
exploitation. If any damage is done, consumer has the right to get compensation depending on the dege
of damage. Consumer forum guide consumers on how to file cases in the consumer court. Thus the
act has enabled us as consumers to have the right to represent in the Consumer Counts.
(e) Learning to become well-informed consumers: When consumers become conscious of their rights
they will be able to discriminate and make informed choices. This calls for acquiring the knowledge ard
skill to become a well-informed consumer.

EXra ShoDs
Under COPRA, a three-tier Quasi Judicial machinery at the district, state and national level was set up
for redressal of consumer disputes.
CLAIM LIMIT
District Court ’ 0 - 20 Lakh
State Court’ 20 Lakh- 1 Crore
National Court’ above 1Crore
 Consuriot ights 247
CONSUMES MOVEMENT FORWARD
THE
AAING
boon obeerving 24 December sthe National Consumers Day
ndahas
, i ais one oftho countrios that have oxclusive courts for consumer redrossal.
owevOr the consumer redrossal procosa is bocoming cumbersome, 6xponsive andtirne onsuing
Cash memos aro not issued in most purchase honce evidence is not easy to gather
The existing laws also aro not very clear on the issuo of cornponsation to consumers injursd by dstarve
products.
Similarty, rules and regulations for working of markets are often not followed,
Consumer movements can be effective only with the consumers active
involvemert. It requiresa vcurtary
tot and struggle involving the participatlon of one and al.
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ISland AGMARK: ISI and AGMARK help consumers got assured of quality while purchasing the gos
and services.