LATEST Objectives of Consumer Protection Act

The principal objective of Consumer Protection Act is to grant shield for the improved safeguard to consumers. Unlike prevailing laws, which are disciplinary or precautionary in nature, the provisions of this Act are compensatory in nature. The act is aimed to afford simple, quick and economical redressal to the consumers’ grievances, and reliefs of a particular nature and award of damages wherever appropriate to the consumer.

The Consumer Protection Act has been revised in 1993 both to extend its coverage and scope and to augment the powers of the redressal.

Rights of Consumer As Per The Protection Act

The fundamental rights of consumers as per the Consumer Protection Act are:

Right to be shielded against promotion of goods and services which are risky to life and property
Right to be conversant regarding the wholesomeness, standard ,quality, quantity, potency, and value of goods, or services so as to shield the buyer against unfair trade practices
Right to be ensured, access to range of goods and services at viable prices wherever possible
Right to be informed and be ensured that consumers’ benefit will be given due consideration at appropriate level
Right to search for redressal against unjust trade practices or restraining trade practices or deceitful exploitation of consumers
Right to consumer education

Objectives of Consumer Protection Act

The main objective of the Consumer Protection Act is to grant shield for the improved safeguard of consumers and their rights. Even though there is a prevailing Consumer Protection Act, it is still doubtful as to how far the objectives of the Act are achieved.

Still we see that Rights of consumers are ignored but we hope the government will surely take necessary actions in order to establish the proclaimed fundamental rights soon. Government must ensure consumers right to be conversant regarding the purity, standard ,quality, quantity, potency, and value of goods, or services so as to shield the buyer against unfair trade practices.

Problems of Consumer Protection Act 1986:

The following are a few examples as to how companies are involved in unfair trade practices in order to attract consumers. Few emerging issues related to the Consumer Protection Act 1986 are:

1) Unfair trade Practices: There are many unfair trade practices among the companies, if those practices cannot be stopped, the objectives of the Consumer Protection Act 1986 will be difficult to achieve.

2) Spurious or Duplicate Goods: Numbers of fake companies very often imitate the design, color and shape and outlook of the original brand which is opposed to consumer rights. For example Fair & Lovely is imitated as Fairy & Lovely, Life Buoy as Life Boy etc.

3) Misleading advertisements: TV commercials are misleading; as because real promise of product is miles away from TV ads.

4) Gimmick of Warranty and Guaranty: There is no true warranty or guarantee at all. Many consumers do not know the legal essence of these two terms.

5) Pricing: Pricing is out of control and reach of the consumers. Most of the consumers are not aware about the essence of star (*) which means “Conditions Apply”. This means that the quoted price is applicable only upon happening of an event.

The other challenges consumer protection act 1986 are:
6) Recycled or Renovated Goods

7) Bogus Telemarketing
8) Unsecured Internet-Banking, etc.

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