Rights as a Consumer

It is very essential for a consumer to be aware of her/his rights in order to be protected against unfair practices of the trade. Some of the rights of the consumers include the right to have information about the quality, potency, quantity, purity, price, and standard of goods or services.

In spite of the fact that India has strong laws to protect consumer rights, consumers' actual situation is bleak. The most important legislation for the rights of the consumers is the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which allows every legal entity, an individual, a firm, a Hindu undivided family, or a company, to have the right to exercise consumer rights for the purchase of goods and services. Apart from knowing one's rights, it is also important to know the remedies in case one's right gets infringed.
 

Rights of a Consumer

The following is a list of the rights that consumers in India have:

• The Right to Protection from all kinds of hazardous goods and services

• The Right to Be Fully Informed about the Performance and Quality of All Goods and Services

• The Right to Free Choice of Goods and Services

• The right of consumers to be heard at all stages of decision-making affecting consumer interests

• Right to seek compensation for violations of consumer rights

• Right to consumer education

Apart from the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, several other laws like the Weights, Standards & Measures Act have been formulated to ensure fair competition in the market and free flow of correct information from goods and services providers to the ones who consume them. In fact, the level of consumer protection is considered to be a good indicator of a country's progress. The Department of Consumer Affairs, incorporated by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, serves as the nodal organization to protect consumer rights, redress consumer grievances and promote the standards governing goods and services provided in India.
 

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When can a Consumer file a Complaint?

A consumer can file a complaint in the following circumstances:

• The goods and services that a person has purchased or agreed to purchase have at least one defect or deficiency in any way

• A service provider or trader has engaged in unfair or restrictive trade practices

• If a trader or service provider charges a higher price than that displayed on the goods, the agreed-upon price between the parties, or the stipulated price under existing laws.

Advocate Chikirsha Mohanty

Greater Kailash - 1, Delhi
5 years

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