Consumer Rights and Protection in India

Book excerpt: Consumer protection policies create an environment whereby the clients and customers receive satisfaction from the delivery of goods and services. One of the disquieting features of India's democracy is that an average Indian consumer continues to be in a pitiable condition due to poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, and general apathy. Adulterated food, spurious medicines, and sub-standard domestic appliances are pushed over the counter with ease. Unethical advertisements appear in print and electronic media. When it became imperative to protect the consumers from sub-standard goods and deficient services, and also provide relief by way of compensation, India's Consumer Protection Act was enacted in 1986. The objective of this Act is to offer better protection to the country's consumers against the fraudulent practices of suppliers. The Act provides for effective safeguards for consumers against various types of exploitation and unfair dealings, relying on mainly compensatory rather than punitive or preventive approach. This book examines the rights of consumers and the protective measures adopted in India and other countries. It specifically deals with the statutory measures for redressal of consumer grievances provided under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. [Subject: India Studies, Economics, Business]