what are the salient feature consumer protection act 1986
The salient features of the Act are:
(i) it applies to all goods and services unless specifically exempted by the Central Government
(ii) it covers all the sectors whether private, public, and cooperative or any person. The provisions of the Act are compensatory as well as preventive and punitive in nature
(iii) It enshrines the following rights of consumers:
(a) right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property;
(b) right 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;
(c) right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices;
(d) right to be heard and to be assured that consumers' interests will receive due consideration at the appropriate fora;
(e) right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers; and
(f) right to consumer education;
(iv) The Act also envisages establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the central, state and district levels, whose main objectives will be to promote and protect the rights of consumers;
(v) To provide a simple, speedy and inexpensive redressal of consumer grievances, the Act envisages a three-tier quasi-judicial machinery at the national, state and district levels. These are: National Consumer
• Disputes Redressal Commission known as National Commission,
• State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions known as State Commissions and
•District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum known as District Forum; and
(vi) the provisions of this Act are in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time being in
(i) it applies to all goods and services unless specifically exempted by the Central Government
(ii) it covers all the sectors whether private, public, and cooperative or any person. The provisions of the Act are compensatory as well as preventive and punitive in nature
(iii) It enshrines the following rights of consumers:
(a) right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property;
(b) right 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;
(c) right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices;
(d) right to be heard and to be assured that consumers' interests will receive due consideration at the appropriate fora;
(e) right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers; and
(f) right to consumer education;
(iv) The Act also envisages establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the central, state and district levels, whose main objectives will be to promote and protect the rights of consumers;
(v) To provide a simple, speedy and inexpensive redressal of consumer grievances, the Act envisages a three-tier quasi-judicial machinery at the national, state and district levels. These are: National Consumer
• Disputes Redressal Commission known as National Commission,
• State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions known as State Commissions and
•District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum known as District Forum; and
(vi) the provisions of this Act are in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time being in
