Consumer Protection Act, 2019

the Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 has been passed in the winter session of the Parliament on
December 20, 2018.

2. The new Consumer Protection Act, 2019 came into force on 20th July 2020.
3. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 establishes the Central Consumer Protection
   Authority (CCPA) whose primary objective will be to promote, protect and enforce the rights
   of consumers.
4. complaints can be filed electronically and from where the complainant resides or works.
5. The Bill defines contracts as ‘unfair’ if they significantly affect the rights of consumers. It also
   defines unfair and restrictive trade practices.
6. A manufacturer or product service provider or product seller will be held responsible to
   compensate for injury or damage caused by defective product or deficiency in services.
7. Rules on E-commerce and Unfair Trade Practices:
   a. The government will notify the Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 under
   the Act whose broad provisions are given below.
   b. these platforms will have to acknowledge the receipt of any consumer complaint within
   48 hours and redress the complaint within one month.
   c. They will also have to appoint a grievance officer.
   d. sellers cannot refuse to take back goods or withdraw services or refuse refunds, if such
   goods or services are defective, deficient, delivered late, or if they do not meet the
   description on the platform.
8. Mediation cells will be attached to the District, State, and National Commissions which were
   absent in the 1986 Act.
9. Six consumer rights have been defined in the act, including the right to:
   a. 1. Right to Safety. 2. Right to be Informed 3. Right to Choose. 4. Right to be heard. 5.
   Right to seek Redressed. 6. Right to Consumer Education
10. It will regulate matters related to violation of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and
    misleading advertisements.
11. The CCPA may impose a penalty on a manufacturer or an endorser of up to Rs 10 lakh and
    imprisonment for up to two years for a false or misleading advertisement. In case of a subsequent
    offence, the fine may extend to Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment of up to five years.
12. Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (CDRC): CDRCs will be set up at the district, state,
    and national levels. A consumer can file a complaint with CDRCs in relation to:
    a. Unfair or restrictive trade practices
    b. Defective goods or services;
    c. Overcharging or deceptive charging;
    d. The offering of goods or services for sale which may be hazardous to life and safety.
13. No fee for complaints upto 5 lakh.