Business Studies

Consumer Protection

Question:

Explain the rights and responsibilities of a consumer.

Answer:

The Consumer Protection Act provides six rights to consumers. They are as follows
(i) Right to Safety
The consumer has a right to be protected against goods and services which are hazardous to life, e.g., sometimes we purchased the food items of low quality which causes severe
problems. Thus, in this case, we should purchased good quality and FPO labelled products.
(ii) Right to be Informed
The consumer has a right to have complete information about the product, which he intends to buy including its ingredients, date of manufacture, price , quantity, directions for use etc. Under the legal framework of India manufactures have to provide such information on the package and label of the product.
(iii) Right to Choose
The consumer has the freedom to choose from a variety of products. The marketers should offer a wide variety of products and allow the consumer to make a choice and choose the product which is most suitable. ‘
(iv) Right to be Heard
The consumer has a right to file a complaint and to be heard in case of dissatisfaction with a good or a service. It is because of this reason that many enlightened business firms have set up their own consumer service and grievance cells.
(v) Right to Seek Redressal
The Consumer Protection Act provides a number of reliefs to the consumer including replacement of the product, removal of defect in the product, compensation paid for any loss or injury suffered by the consumer etc.
(vi) Right to Consumer Education
The consumer has a right to acquire knowledge about products. He should be aware about his rights and the reliefs available to him in case of a product/service falling short of his expectations. Many consumer organisations and some enlightened businesses are taking an active part in educating consumers in this respect.
Consumer Responsibilities
A consumer must be aware about these responsibilities while purchasing, using and consuming goods and services
(i) Consumer must be aware of all their rights.
(ii) Consumer must be careful while purchasing a product.
(iii) He should file complaint for the redressal of genuine grievances.
(iv) Consumer must buy a standardised good.
(v) He should ask for a cash-memo on purchase of goods and services

previuos
next

Consumer Protection

Q 1.

What scenario of consumer protection do you foresee j when the measures proposed in the above news report are implemented?

Q 2.

What roll can you as a student play to contribute to the cause of consumer protection?

Q 3.

Enumerate the various Acts passed by the Government of India which help in protecting the consumer’s interest?

Q 4.

What new measure is the ministry of consumer affairs taking to make filing a complaint easy?

Q 5.

Explain the redressal mechanism available to consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986?

Q 6.

What are various ways in which the objective of consumer protection can be achieved? Explain the role of consumer organisations and NGOs in this regard?

Q 7.

Who can file a complaint in a consumer court?

Q 8.

Explain the role of consumer organisations and NGOs in protecting and promoting consumers’ interest.

Q 9.

Explain the rights and responsibilities of a consumer.

Q 10.

Explain the importance of consumer protection from the point of view of business.

Q 11.

What kind of cases can be filed in a state commission?

Q 12.

What are the responsibilities of a consumer?