Jun 10, 2001 11:13 PM
2034 Views
Broadly stated, a ''Consumer'' is a user of goods and services. Obviously therefore, every producer is also a consumer. However, conflicting interest have categorized them, inevitably, into two different groups. The Industrial revolution brought in the Concept of Standardization and mass production and over the years, the type of goods and the nature of service available grew manifold.
The Doctrine of 'Caveat Emptor' or 'Let the buyer beware' which Came into existence in the middle ages has been replaced by the principal of 'Consumer is the king'. But with tremendous increase in the world population, the growing markets were unable to meet the rising demand which naturally created gap between the general demand and supply levels in the market. It became inevitable for consumer to unite on a common platform to deal with issues of common concern and having their grievances redressed satisfactorily. The need to ensure the basic rights to health, safety, etc. of consumer has long been recognized the world over and various general legislation were enacted in India and abroad in this direction. In India, the general enactments other than the law of torts which ultimately aimed at protection of consumer's interest are----- The Indian Contract Act 1872, Sales of Goods Act 1930, The Essential Commodities Act 1955 and Consumer Protection Act 1986.
Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986 with the object of better protection of the Consumer and for the settlement of consumer disputes. While the MRTPC is directed at prohibition and control of certain trade practices.
The basic rights of a consumer that are sought to be promoted and protected are:
> The rights to be protected against marketing of goods and services, which are hazardous to life and property.
> The right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods, or service so as to protect the Consumer against unfair Trade Practice.
> The right to be assured, wherever possible, access to variety of goods and services at competitive prices.
> The right to be heard and to be assured that Consumer interest will receive due consideration at appropriate forums.
> The right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or restrictive trade practice of unscrupulous exploitation of consumer and
> The right to Consumer education.
Although this Act(Consumer protection Act, 1986) has proved a great help to the society but still it is not fully able to solve the problem, because of lack of Consumer education. Although this Act provides three tier redressal agency at District, State and National level but with fixed territorial and pecuniary limits. But because of lack of knowledge of consumer rights and poor financial position and lack of production and corruption this act has not been able to meet the expectations.
So we all are consumer in one way or the other and thus we should go for the implementation of our rights.
This is all I wanna convey in favour of a consumer
