Consumer protection is the rights given to a consumer for having clarity of information regarding the product that they buy. They have the right to have full information about the quality, quantity, price, standard and purity of the product. It is to be mentioned, however, that consumer rights are solely for the consumers who buy a product for their direct use and not for reselling it.

Consumer protection is considered to be falling udert e arena of “private law.” It is a way of preventing consumers as well as the state rom financial scams, financial frauds and bankrupt businesses. Countries like Australia, Brazil, United States of America and the United Kingdom, have consumer protection laws in the nation-state level. They also have specific state organisations to help their consumers.

Constitutional Laws: As many as 47 constitutions in the present day include some consumer rights to be enforced in their constitution.

Consumer Protection In India:

In India, the most important consumer rights fall under The Consumer Protection Act of 1986. According to this law, not only the individual consumers but a company, a group of consumers, an undivided Hindu family, all have the power to exercise their rights. The consumer rights mentioned in the law are-

• The right to be protected from harmful and hazardous goods and services.
• The right to be informed in details about the quality as well as the performance of a good.
• The right to freedom of choice of goods and services.
• The right to be heard in all the decision-making processes which are related to the interests of the consumers.
• The right to seek redressal on the infringement of consumer rights.
• The right to the completion of consumer education.

Keeping the condition of the consumers in mind, The Government of India and its Ministry of Consumer Affairs, opened a nodal organisation called the Department of Consumer Affairs to protect the consumers from frauds and unfair treatment. If there is an infringement of these rights, then a proper claim for redressal can be made in a consumer court.

The circumstances under which a complaint can be made in a consumer court:

• If the goods or services purchased by the person has one or more defects.
• If a trader or a service provider resort to unfair means of business.
• If a trader or a service provider charges a price above what has been agreed upon under law.
• Goods or services that cause a certain safety hazard to the users or the consumers.

Right to Consumer Education:

It is the right of every citizen to have an education regarding consumer protection. The education makes sure that the consumer has all the knowledge and information required regarding their rights and claims. Consumer forum is a quasi-judicial mechanism at the district, state and national level. It is a three-tier mechanism consisting of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum and the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum. It is till now one of the most successful judicial tribunal introduced by the Government.

10 Lines on Consumer Rights in English

1. Nearly 47 countries have it as a constitutional right.
2. The Consumer Protection Act came into being in 1986.
3. The ministry of the Government is called The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
4. The Department of Consumer Affairs has been made for addressing complaints.
5. On the infringement of any consumer rights, the consumer can complain in a consumer court.
6. Consumer course is of three-tier in India.
7. It is a quasi-judicial body.
8. It exists in the district-state and national level.
9. The district-state-national forums entertain complaints of 20 lacs, one crore and more than one crore respectively.
10. Consumer rights are one of the most efficient aspects of today’s judicial system.