Consumers must be empowered to file class action law suits: Jaitley

Empowering consumers to file class action law suits against illegal practices of sellers and fortifying consumer forums against the backdrop of huge growth of e-commerce is the need of the hour to protect consumers, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday.

With e-commerce trade set to increase, legislative intervention or judicial pronouncement should address the dilution of the jurisdiction concept in e-commerce platforms, Jaitley said in his address to the national conference of consumer fora.

To protect the consumers, the government is amending the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 to bring e-commerce consumers under its ambit, he said.

He said class action suits can be filed by groups of people as well when they get cheated by sellers.

The 1986 act served us well and now it is time to reach the next stage, Jaitley said.