SC asks Centre, States to fill vacancies in consumer bodies

• Supreme Court gave the Centre and the States 8 weeks to fill up the vacancies in the National and States’ Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions.
• SC pointed a lack of will in making smooth the functioning of the consumer disputes commissions.
• The court directed the States to advertise the existing and potential vacancies in two weeks.

Consumer Protection Act 2019

• The act came into effect from July 20th 2020.
• The Bill replaces the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
• Provisions under Consumer Protection Act 2019

1. Inclusion of E- commerce
2. Direct selling Establishment of Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
3. Strict Norms for Misleading Advertisement • Strict Norms for product liability
4. Changes in the Pecuniary Jurisdiction
5. Greater ease to dispute resolution Addition in the clause of “Unfair Trade Practice”
6. Unfair Contract
7. Alternate Dispute Resolution through mediation

Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies

• These are quasi-judicial bodies established under the Act to provide simple, speedy and inexpensive redressal to the grievances of the consumers.
• These have been established at three levels: District, State and National known respectively as:

1. District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or District Commission
2. State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or State Commission
3. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission or National Commission.

Pecuniary jurisdiction of Commissions

• District Commission: Upto 1 cr
• State Commission: 1 cr – 10 cr
• National Commission: above 10 cr