Consumer Protection Councils

Central Consumer Protection Council

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 empowers the Central Government to establish a Central Consumer Protection Council. It will act as an advisory body on consumer issues.

As per the notified Central Consumer Protection Council Rules, the Central Consumer Protection Council would be headed by the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution with the Minister of State as Vice Chairperson and 34 other members from different fields. The Council, which has a three-year tenure, will have a Minister-in-charge of consumer affairs from two States from each region – North, South, East, West, and NER. There is also a provision for having working groups from amongst the members for specific tasks.

Objectives of CCPC

The objects of the Central Council shall be to promote and protect the rights of the Consumers, such as:

1. The right to be protected against marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property;

2. The right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods [or services, as the case may be] so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices;

3. The right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices;

4. The right to be heard and to be assured that Consumers’ interest will receive due consideration at appropriate forums;

5. The right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or restrictive trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of Consumer; and

6. The right to Consumer education.

State Consumer Protection Council

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 empowers the State Government to establish a Central Consumer Protection Council.

The council will consist of the member including the Minister-in-charge of Consumer Affairs in the State Government who shall be its Chairman; and such number of other official or non –official members representing such interests as may be prescribed by the State Government.

The objects of every State Council shall be to promote and protect within the State the rights of the Consumers, as defined by the Act for the Central Consumer Protection Council.

The author is a fifth-year student pursuing B.A. LL.B from the Central University of Kashmir.