The Redressal Mechanism under the Consumer Protection Act 2019-A Study
Author : Dr. B Sravanthi
Abstract :
Every one of us is a consumer somehow. It is important that we know and educates consumers about the goods and services we have in the marketplace. But very few consumers know what rights they have under the Consumer Protection Act, of 2019. The 2019 act replaced the 1986 act and seeks to expand its scope to respond to consumer concerns. Have you ever thought about what would happen to consumers if we didn't give them adequate protection? With growing competition and in an attempt to increase their sales and market share, manufacturers, sellers, and service providers may be tempted to engage in unscrupulous, exploitative, and unfair trade practices like defective and unsafe products, adulteration, false and misleading advertising, hoarding, black-marketing, etc. This means that a consumer might be exposed to risks due to unsafe products, might suffer from bad health due to adulterated food products, might be cheated because of misleading advertisements or sale of spurious products, might have to pay a higher price when sellers engage in overpricing, hoarding or black-marketing, etc.
Consequently, the consumer becomes dangerous, feels deceived and is exposed to numerous risks and health problems. Can businesses afford to disregard consumers' interests? The market forces have changed from a seller's market, i.e., the earlier approach of caveat emptor which means Let the buyer beware, to a consumer market i.e., caveat venditor which implies Let the seller beware. A consumer is described as a king in the open market economy. As such, consumer protection is important for consumers and businesses alike. Under the Consumer Protection Act 2019, the Government of India has provided legal protection in the interests of a consumer.
Keywords :
Consumer, rights, consumer redressal mechanism
