New consumer protection law will give more rights to consumers, see what?

New Delhi: The consumer will get more rights under the government newly notified most Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which will come into force on July 20. With the consumers’ peace of mind in focus, the new law will ensure that complaints can be filed at a district or state consumer commission from the location where the complainant resides rather than from where the service or product was bought.

The new provisions will also enable the consumers to drag to court if manufacturers, sellers or distributors found dealing with adulterated and spurious products. They can also file complaints in consumer commissions claiming compensation for the spurious or adulterated product from the consumer. Giving real teeth to courts against such errant businesses, under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which come into effect Monday, they can be awarded up to 6 months in jail or a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh in cases where the consumer is not injured.

In cases where the consumer is injured, the fine to the manufacturer, seller or distributor could be upto Rs 5 lakh and upto seven years in jail. If the case pertains to the death of the consumer then a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh and seven years in jail which may be extended to life imprisonment can be imposed.

The consumer commissions at district, state and national level will be able to entertain complaints and the CCPA will be able to take suo moto action and forward cases to National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission for class action lawsuit where a large number of consumers are affected.

The Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Upper House of the Parliament on July 8, 2019, by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan. It was passed on July 30, 2019, by the Lok Sabha and later cleated by Rajya Sabha on August 6, 2019. The bill received assent from President Ram Nath Kovind on August 9. It will come into effect on July 20, 2020.