1. Right to Seek Redressal Prof.(Dr.) Ashok R. Patil Professor of Law Chair on Consumer Law and Practice [Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India] National Law School of India University, Bangalore

2. “The customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption on our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider on our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so” “The customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption on our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider on our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so” - Mahatma Gandhi - Mahatma Gandhi

3. Devices of Consumer Protection a.Voluntary Consumer Associations b.Business Self-regulations: Ethical Standards towards consumer c.Consumer Legislations d.State Govts. and Central Govt.

4. Important Events On 15 th March 1962, President John F. Kennedy introduced Consumer Rights in Congress. On 15 th March 1962, President John F. Kennedy introduced Consumer Rights in Congress. United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protection: 09-04-1985. United Nations Guidelines on Consumer Protection: 09-04-1985. On 24 th December 1987 Indian President signed on Consumer Protection Act, 1986 On 24 th December 1987 Indian President signed on Consumer Protection Act, 1986

5. Caveat Emptor to Caveat Venditor Consumer Rights are Human Rights Consumer Rights are Human Rights Constitution of India Constitution of India  Preamble  Article 14  Article 19(1)(g) and 19(6)  Article 21  Article 38  Article 47A

6. Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (copra) Consumer Protection Rules, 1987 Consumer Protection Rules, 1987 Consumer Protection Regulations, 2005 Consumer Protection Regulations, 2005 Amendment to COPRA: 1991, 1993, 2002 and Bill 2011 Amendment to COPRA: 1991, 1993, 2002 and Bill 2011 Merits of COPRA Merits of COPRA Sec.3: Special Law Vs. General Law Sec.3: Special Law Vs. General Law

7. Alternative dispute redressal Internal Redressal Mechanism Internal Redressal Mechanism Lok Adalats Lok Adalats Regulatory Authorities Regulatory Authorities Ombudsman Ombudsman Self Regulations Self Regulations National Consumer Helpline (NCH) National Consumer Helpline (NCH) Free Legal Services of Law Schools/Colleges- Recognition Free Legal Services of Law Schools/Colleges- Recognition

12. Statistics of filed cases, disposed cases, pending cases and % of total disposed cases under COPRA as on 18 th Sept 2012 Sl. No Name of Agency Cases filed Since inception Cases Disposed off since inception Cases Pending % of total Disposal 1 National Commission76909665601034986.54% 2 State Commissions5811024851569594683.49% 3 District Forums3169197292578224341592.32% TOTAL3827208347749834971090.86%

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