Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTRODUCTION
Caveat emptor rule ( let the buyer beware) in sale of goods act of 1930, sprout the root of consumer interest protection.
United nations passed resolution of consume protection in april 1985 In India 1986 was the enactment of consumer protection act Aimed at providing simple, quick, and cheaper protection of consumers interest
The law relating to consumer protection is contained in the consumer protection Act ,1986.The Act applies to all goods and services .The central government may however by notification published in the official Gazette exempt any goods or services(sec.1
OBJECTIVES
Better protection of interests of consumers
Protection of rights of consumers
-Right to be protected against marketing of goods or services which are hazardous to life and property
- To be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services so as to protect the consumers against unfair trade practices
access to goods and services at competitive prices - The right to be heard and to be assured that consumers interest will receive due consideration at appropriate forums - The right to seek redresses against unfair trade practices or restrictive trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers
Penalties for non-compliance of the orders given by the quasi-judicial bodies have also been provided
Consumer forums have the power to adjudicate disputes, but they do nat have trappings of a court The consumer court powers are limited
(1)The practice of making any statement, whether orally or in writing or by visible representation whichFalsely represents that the goods are of particular standard, quality, quantity, grade, composition, style or model; Falsely represents that the services are of particular standard, quality or grade;
Falsely represents any rebuilt, second hand, renovated, or old goods as new goods; Represents that the goods or services have sponsorship, approval, performance, characteristic, accessories, uses or benefits which such goods or services do not have; Represents that the seller or the supplier has sponsorship or approval or affiliation which such seller or supplier does not have;
Make a false or misleading representation concerning the needs for , or the usefulness of, any goods or services; Gives to the public any warranty or guarantee of the performance or length of life of a product or of any goods that is not based on an adequate or proper test thereof.
Materially misleading the public concerning the price at which a product or like products or goods or services, have been or are ordinarily sold or provided.
CONTD
3. Schemes offering gifts or prizes [section 2(1)(r)(3)]
Offering gifts or prizes or other items with the intention of not providing them and conducting promotional contests. Creating an impression that something is being given free of charge when it is fully or partly covered by the amount charged in the transaction. Conducting of any contest, lottery or game of chances etc for the purpose of promoting-directly or indirectly- the sale, use or supply of any product or any business interest.
CONTD
Society for Civil Rights vs Colgate Palmolive
Eg: A scheme sponsored by Colgate Palmolive (India) Ltd induced the contestants to buy a minimum of 2 Trigard toothbrushes to be able to participate in the contest. The early bird prizes to be awarded for entries received early had nothing to do with any skill. It was held not to be in public interest.
CONTD
4.
Withholding any schemes [sec 2(1)(r)(3A)] Withholding from the participants of any scheme offering gifts, prizes or other items free of charge, on its closure the information about final result of scheme. The participants of a scheme shall be deemed to have been informed of the final results of the scheme where such results are within a reasonable time published prominently in the same newspapers in which the scheme was originally published.
CONTD
5. Non compliance of prescribed standards [sec 2(1)(r)(4): The prescribed standard may relate to performance, composition, contents, design, packaging etc as are necessary to prevent or reduce the risk of injury to the person using the goods.
CONTD
6. Hoarding, destruction or refusal [sec 2(1)(r)(5): Hoarding, destruction or refusal to sell the goods which raises or tends to raise the cost of those or other similar goods or services shall amount to an unfair trade practice.
CONTD
7. Manufacturing or sale of spurious goods [section 2(1)(r)(6): Spurious goods and services means such goods and services which are claimed to be genuine but are not so.
DEFICIENCY IN SERVICE
MEANING
Section 2(1) (g) of the Act provides that, deficiency means any fault, imperfection, shortcoming or inadequacy in the quality, nature and manner of performance which is required to be maintained by or under any law for the time being in force or has been undertaken to be performed by a person in pursuance of a contract or otherwise in relation to any service.
Deficiency means any fault, imperfection, shortcoming or inadequacy in the quality, nature and manner of performance. Such quality and manner of performance of service should have been required to be maintained by or under any law for the time being in force or undertaken to be performed by a person in pursuance of a contract or otherwise. The deficiency must be in relation to a service.
EXAMPLES
Bank of Maharashtra v/s Mrs Jyothi Satya
When the locker facility is provided by the bank, the relationship b/w the bank and hirer of a locker is not that of a landlord and tenant. In event of loss of contents of lockers as a result of robbery, the bank will be liable for deficiency of service.
Failure of the housing board to give possession of the flat after receiving the price and registering it in favour of the allottee. Non-delivery of consignment by the courier. Failure of railways to provide cushioned seats in the first class compartment as per specifications laid down by the board.
The removal of ladder of an aircraft while the passenger was disembarking and thereby causing 10% permanent disability.
The fall of the passenger from a running train while passing through the vestibule passage.
EXAMPLES
Delay caused in returning of baggage or tampering with baggage. Failure in informing the unavailability of a connecting flight.
Price fixing or output restraint i.e delivery/flow of supplies to impose unjustified costs/restrictions on consumers.
Collusive tendering; market fixing territorially among competing suppliers, depriving consumers of free choice, fair competition. Supplying only to particular distributors or on condition of sale only within a territory.
CONSISTS OF..
the Minister in charge of consumer affairs in the Central Government, who shall be its Chairman such number of other official or non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed
The Central Council shall meet at such time and place as the Chairman may think fit and shall observe such procedure in regard to the transaction of its business as may be prescribed
b) The right to be assured ,where ever possible ,access to a variety of goods and services at competitive price
c) The right to consumer education. d) The right to be heard and to be assured that consumer interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forums. e) The right to be informed about the quality ,quantity,potency,purity,standard and price of goods or services so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices.
Meetings:Number of meetings:-Not less then 2 meetings every year Time and place:Depends on the chairman
Objective:To promote and protect within the states The rights of the consumer as laid down in Sec(6)
Meetings:Number of meetings:- not less then 2 meetings Time and place:- as decided by the chairman Objective:To protect and preserve the right of the consumer within the district laid down under the Sec(6).
To remove the defects pointed out by the appropriate laboratory from all the goods in question. To replace the goods of similar description which shall be free from defect. To discontinue the unfair trade practice or restrictive trade practice or not to remove them. To withdraw the hazardous goods from being offered for sale.
In the case of misleading advertisements the other party has to pay the cost of the corrective advertisements.
The members should have the following qualifications; 1.Not less than the age of 35. 2.the person should possess a bachelor degree from any recognized university.
The consumer to whom the goods are sold or delivered, or agreed to be sold or delivered , or the service has been provided, or agreed to be provided
Any recognized consumer association, regardless of whether the consumer is a member of such association or not.
One or more consumer , where there are numerous consumer having the same interest with permission of the district forum on behalf of or for the benefit of all consumer so interested. The state or central govt. either its individual capacity or as a representative of the interest of the consumer in general.
BY, MATHEW.M.C
CONTINUED..
Subsection (1B) of section 16, the jurisdiction, power and authority of the state commission may be exercised thereof. State commission consist of the president and one or more members. Decisions are taken on the basis of majority.
CONTINUED..
3) Supervisory jurisdiction Can ask for records or pass an order for any pending dispute in the district forum within the state.
Territorial jurisdiction of the state commission can be invoked in the same grounds as that of the district forum under section 11(2)
CONTINUED..
Transfer of cases On the application of a complainant, or of its own motion, may at any stage of the of the proceeding transfer any complaints pending before the district to another district forum within the state. Circuit benches State commission ordinarily functions in the state capital, but may be required to perform its functions at any other place as the state government may, in consultation with the state commission, notify in the official gazette.
CONTINUED..
Tenure the term of office of a member is mostly 5 years or 65 years of age. Which ever is earlier.
NATIONAL COMMISSION
Section 9 empowers the central government to establish national consumer disputes Redressal Commission.
COMPOSITION
1) President He has to be a person who is or has been the Judge of the Supreme Court. His appointment shall be made by the Central Government in consultation by the Chief Justice of India. 2) Members There shall be not less than 4 and not more than such a number of members as may be prescribed, processing the qualifications as are prescribed for a member of the State Commission.
APPOINTMENT
Appointment is done by the Central Govt. on recommendation of selection committee consisting of a judge of the Supreme Court nominated by the Chief Justice of India who shall act as chairman; the Secretary in the Dept of Legal Affairs and Secretary in the Dept dealing with consumer affairs, as members. The President and every member shall give an undertaking that he does have and will not have any such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as such member.
T E N U R E A N D R E M O VA L O F P R E S I D E N T O R M E M B E R S (RULE 13)
TENURE
Every member of the national commission shall hold the office for 5 years or up to the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. A member shall be eligible for reappointment for another term of 5 years or up to the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier. The reappointment is to be made on the basis of recommendation of the selection committee.
Has been adjudged an insolvent. If any conviction of an offence, Physically or mentally incapable of acting as a president or member, or Has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his function as the president or member, or
Has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to public interest, or
Remains absent in three consecutive sittings except for reasons beyond his control.
COMPLAINT
A complaint is any allegation in writing made by a complainant that, an unfair trade practice or a restrictive trade practice has been adopted by any trader. Under sec2(1)c of consumer protection act, A complaint must be made with a view to obtaining any relief provided.
CONT
iii) Class action complaints - one or more consumers, where there are numerous consumers having the same interest.
The complaint should be filed within 2 years from the date of cause of action.
Appeals are require to be filed within 30 days from the date of receipt of the court's order.
It may be noted that these time frames are not absolute limitations. If the Consumer Forum is satisfied that there was sufficient cause for not filing the complaint within the prescribed period, it can entertain a complaint beyond limitation time. However the Forum must record the reasons for condensation of delay.