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The Central government has decided to amend the existing Consumer Protection Act and BIS Act for greater empowerment of consumers. It has also decided to set up a National Consumer Protection Authority for redress of consumer grievances and to take penal class action against defaulting companies.
"This would ensure quality products and services for consumers," said Union Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Saturday in Patna. "Under the proposed amendment, there are provisions under which defaulting companies can be forced to recall their products. We have also tried to enhance financial penalty and to reduce long process of litigation."
He added the amendment bill is almost ready and the government will try to present in the budget session of the parliament.
Discussing the provisions of the proposed bill, Paswan said mis-selling advertisements and e-Retailers will also be brought under the purview of the amended law. Under the proposed law, defaulting companies will have only one chance for appeal, which will help in reducing long process of litigation.
“At present, we have consumer courts at National, State and District levels. We have decided that if a company will be found guilty at district level, it can appeal only at State level. It will help us in speedy, inexpensive and simple dispensation of consumer cases,” Paswan said.
The government is also planning to make consumer forums simple, so that consumers do not need lawyers for presenting the cases.
The ministry has also decided to set up a National Consumer Protection Authority (NCPA) for redressal of consumer grievances and to take penal class action against defaulting companies. “This will be a regulatory body with all the executive and enforcement powers for protection of consumer rights. It will have the powers to force defaulting companies to recall faulty products and it can also impose hefty penalties on them,” he added.
The minister reiterated that his ministry has almost finalised the bill and it will be presented in the parliament soon after Cabinet nod.
