Central Consumer Protection Authority established by Central Govt. under Consumer Protection Act, 2019

The Central Consumer Protection Authority has been established by the Central Government w.e.f. 24th July, 2020. The Central Government has notified the same in the wake of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 which came into force on July 20, 2020 (replacing the previous Consumer Protection Act, 1986). The CCPA (Central Consumer Protection Authority) will be handling matters associated with consumer rights violations, unfair trade practice and false/misleading advertisements. The CCPA is a central level authority with its headquarter at New Delhi and other regional offices. It is led by one Chief Commissioner with a specified number of Commissioners. The CCPA will act like a & lsquo watchdog' and according to the Government Notification, is a body corporate under the Companies Act which can “ acquire, hold and dispose of property (both movable and immovable)...sue and be sued” . It will be assisted by a Director General of Investigation in order to examine cases and submit reports thereafter. Chapter 3 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 consists of provisions regarding the Consumer Protection Authority. According to the Act, the CCPA has the authority to inquire or investigate the violations of consumer rights and unfair trade practices, either on its own (suo moto) or on complaints/directions received from the Central Government. It can also file complaints before the District/State/National Commissions, according to the case at hand. The CCPA will review matters relating to consumer rights, including the safeguards provided for the protection of consumer rights. It can undertake research in this field and will also spread and promote awareness on consumer rights.