1. CONSUMER PROTECTION

2. MEANING OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
TO PROTECT THE CONSUMERS AGAINST THE UNFAIR PRACTICES OF THE PRODUCERS AND SELLERS IS CALLED CONSUMER PROTECTION
CONSUMERS ARE THE KING OF THE MARKET AND HIS EVERY NEEDS AND DEMAND IS TO BE FULLFILED AND PROTECTED AGAINST ANY KIND OF MISLEADING ACTIVITIES.

3. HOW ARE CONSUMERS EXPLOITED
THROUGH ADULTERATION OF CONSUMER GOODS
POOR QUALITY OF GOODS AND SERVICES
MISLEADING ADVERTISEMENT
SHORT MEASURE AND UNDER WEIGHT GOODS
CREATION OF ARTIFICIAL SCARCITY BY HOARDING GOODS

4. EXAMPLES OF CONSUMER EXPLOITATION IN INDIA
A Manufacturer of sunflower oil claims in the advt. published in a national daily that his oil is rich in vitamins, minerals and so on. On testing all claims were found false.
Instant noodles can only be sold in the packing of 100 gms but in case of some manufacturers there are just 80 gms noodles in the packet.
A women get admitted in a hospital for an appendix operation but doctors treated her negligently and removed her gall bladder instead of appendix and as a result the women died.

5. Who is a consumer
A person will be termed as consumer if : (i) he buys goods or hires services for consideration (ii) he uses goods with the approval of the buyer (iii) he uses goods bought or services hired exclusively for earning livelihood by self employment

6. Legal protection to consumers
The Consumer Protection Act 1986
The Contract Act 1982
The Sales of Goods Act 1930
The Essential Commodities Act 1955
The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954
The Standards of Weights and measures Act 1976
The Trade Mark Act 1999
The Competition Act 2002

7. Consumer Protection Act 1986
Consumer Protection Act provides protection to the consumer, passed by the parliament in 1986 and came into force with affect from July 1987.The Act extends to whole of India except the state of Jammu and Kashmir .It was amended twice i.e. in 1993 and The act provides for the formation of Consumer Protection Councils both at the centre and in the states.

8. Salient features of Consumer Protection Act
Coverage of items : This act is applicable on all products and services.
Coverage of sector: This act is applicable to all areas whether private , public or cooperative .
Compensatory nature of provisions as it compensates the consumer for the losses .
Group of consumer’s rights.
Effective safeguards

9. IMPORTANCE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
FROM THE CONSUMER’S POINT OF VIEW
CONSUMER’S IGNORANCE
UNORGANISED CONSUMER’S
WIDESPREAD EXPLOITATION OF CONSUMER’S

10. LEGAL PROTECTION TO CONSUMER’S
THE CONSUMER’S PROTECTION ACT 1996
THE CONTRACT ACT 1982
THE SALES OF GOODS ACT 1930
THE ESSENTIALS COMMODITIES ACT 1955
THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE ACT 1937
THE PRESENTATION ACT 1954
THE COMPETITION ACT, 2002

11. FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF BUSINESS
LONG TERM INTEREST OF BUSINESS
BUSINESS USES SOCIETY’S RESOURCES
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
MORAL JUSTIFICATION
GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION

12. CONSUMER RIGHTS RIGHT TO SAFETY RIGHT TO INFORMATION RIGHT TO CHOOSE
RIGHT TO BE HEARD
RIGHT TO SEEK REDRESSAL
RIGHT TO CONSUMER EDUCATION

13. RIGHT TO SAFETY
CONSUMER HAS THE RIGHT TO BE PROTECTED AGAINST MARKETING OF SUCH GOODS AND SERVICES AS ARE HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH, LIFE AND PROPERTY.

14. RIGHT TO INFORMATION
CONSUMER HAS THE RIGHT TO GET ALL NECESSARY INFORMATION ON THE BASIS OF WHICH HE MAY DECIDE TO BUY GOODS OR SERVICES .

15. RIGHT TO CHOOSE
UNDER THIS RIGHT CONSUMER CAN CHOOSE ANY FROM AMONG THE VARIETY OF GOODS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET.

16. RIGHT TO BE HEARD
CONSUMER HAS THE RIGHT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND TO BE HEARD IN CASE OF DISSATISFACTION WITH A GOOD OR A SERVICE.

17. RIGHT TO EDUCATION
CONSUMER HAS THE RIGHT TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND TO BE A WELL INFORMED CONSUMER THROUGHOUT LIFE.

18. Consumer’s Responsibilities
Consumers must exercise his Rights.
Cautious consumer do not buy blindly.
Filing complaint for the Redressal of Genuine Grievances.
Do not compromise on Quality.
Beware of false advertisement.
Don’t forget to take receipt and guarantee card.

19. CASE
MS SOFIA ,A CONSUMER PURCHASED MEDICINES WITHOUT NOTICING THE DATE OF EXPIRY.SHE ALSO DID NOT OBTAIN THE CASH MEMO.DO YOU THINK SHE WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT HERSELF BY THE LOSS CAUSED DUE TO EXPIRED MEDICINE?

20. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONSUMER
CONSUMER HAVE TO BEAR SOME RESPONSIBILITIES TO PREVENT HIMSELF FROM EXPLOITATION.

21. 1.CONSUMER MUST EXERCISE HIS RIGHTS.
CONSUMER IS GRANTED VARIOUS RIGHTS BUT THESE RIGHTS WILL BE USEFUL ONLY WHEN CONSUMER EXERCISES THEM.

22. 2.CAUTIOUS CONSUMER
CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BLINDLY BELIEVE ON THE WORDS OF THE SELLER.HE MUST INSIST ON GETTING FULL INFORMATION.

23. 3.FILING COMPLAINTS FOR REDRESSAL
consumer forum
THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT IGNORE HIS LOSS HE SUFFERS ON PURCHASE OF DEFECTIVE GOODS AND SERVICES.HE MUST FILE A COMPLAINT EVEN FOR A SMALL LOSS.

24. 4.CONSUMER MUST BE QUALITY CONSCIOUS
CONSUMER SHOULD NOT COMPROMISE WITH THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT.HE SHOULD LOOK FOR QUALITY MARKS SUCH AS ISI,AGMARK ETC.
ISI??

25. 5.DO NOT GET CARRIED AWAY BY ADVERTISEMENTS
CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BELIEVE BY JUST SEEING THE ADVERTISEMENT. HE SHOULD SEE THE ACTUAL USE OF THE PRODUCT.

26. 6.INSIST ON CASH MEMO
CASH MEMO IS THE EVIDENCE OR PROOF THAT CONSUMER HAS PAID FOR THE GOOD OR SERVICE.TO FILE A COMPLAINT EVIDENCE IS NEEDED.HENCE HE SHOULD ASK FOR CASH MEMO.

27. Three tier Judicial Machinery under the Consumer Protection Act
District Forum at district level (upto 20 lakh)
State commission at state level (above Rs 20 lakh but less than 1 crore).
National commission at national level (exceeding Rs 1 crore).

28. WAYS AND MEANS OF CONSUMER PROTECTION
SELF REGULATION BY BUSINESS
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
CONSUMER AWARENESS
CONSUMER ORGANISATION
GOVERMENT

29. ROLE OF CONSUMERORGANISATIONS&NON GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS
ACCELARATING CONSUMER AWARENESS
COLLECTING DATA ON DIFFERENT PRODUCTS
EXTENDING SUPPPORT TO GOVERNMENT
HELPING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
FILING SUIT ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS

30. SAURABH JAITLY
PGT COMMERCE