Shweta, Research Scholar, Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh
ABSTRACT
The international trade and commerce has in the recent past observed a significant industrial revolution which has led into flourishing corporate sector, and consequently making available a wide range of consumer goods and consumer services to meet consumer needs. The massive technological developments in the modern world have no doubt made a colossal impact on the safety, availability and quality of goods and services. However, due to the revolution in information technology, consumers are facing new types of problems such as cybercrime, plastic money, etc., which have an even greater impact on consumers. The present Article assumes its significance since it aims at the protection of purchasers of goods and services from unfair market practices which is encompassed by the very expression “Consumer protection”. This refers to measures designed to protect consumers from corruption and malicious misconduct by sellers, manufacturers, service providers, etc., and to provide remedies when their rights as consumers are violated.
The author has made sincere efforts to bring forth before various stakeholders who may include students, academicians, legislators or any consumer of goods/services to spread awareness about rights of consumers enshrined under Consumer Protection Law in India. Henceforth, the objectives, vital provisions, and scope of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 alongwith landmark judicial pronouncements on the subject matter have been cited in this article. Also various improvements have been incorporated in 2019 Act over the previous 1986 Act which are quintessential for the knowledge of the readers whereby new authorities have been established and existing authorities have been bestowed more power to check consumer harassment; and whereby more goods and service providers have been brought under the umbrella of the Act for not allowing them to escape their liability. Various issues which are still yet to be resolved by the subject-matter legislation have been highlighted and durable solutions have been proposed by the author.
