Understanding Consumer Rights in India
“Jaagoh Grahak Jaagoh” is the slogan that we come across very often. This means that people should be aware of their rights and protect themselves from any fraud. People should be empowered with the rights of consumers so understanding consumer rights in India is important.
Who is a consumer?
Section 2(7) of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 defines the term consumer. It means any person who buys any product or avails any service for consideration has paid, promised to pay, or agreed to pay partially now and partially later or under a system of deferred payment.
Example 1: A Consumer is buying a phone. He goes through all the details and descriptions. This description covers the rights of consumers.
Example 2: A consumer availing the service of a beauty parlour for a haircut. If the haircut is not as satisfying as it should be, then the rights of consumers can come into the picture.
Who is not a consumer?
A person who obtains
- Goods that are free of charge
- Avails free-of-charge services
- Goods for resale or for any commercial purpose
- Avails services for commercial purposes
- Avails services under contract
What are the rights of consumers?
The Consumer Protection Act of 2019 deals with the consumer and its rights. The act also provides the provision to approach the court in deficiency of goods or services.
This act covers six major rights of the consumer:
- Right to Safety: Consumers have the right to protection from products and services that pose hazards to their health or life.
- Right to be Informed: Consumers must obtain accurate and truthful information about products and services to make informed choices. For example, a packet of chips provides a description of the product, listing ingredients, nutritional information, and potential allergens.
- Right to Choose: Consumers should have access to a variety of products and services at competitive prices, allowing them to make choices based on their needs and preferences.
- Right to Be Heard: Consumers have the right to voice their complaints and concerns to the authorities. For example, customer care services are available.
- Right to Redressal: If a product or service harms consumers, they have the right to seek remedies, including repair, replacement, or refund.
- Right to Consumer Awareness: Consumers should be provided with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and understand their rights.
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