(a) whether the Union Government is actively considering amendments to give more teeth to the Consumer Protection Act of 1986 and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has any proposal to create a Consumer Protection Authority to protect consumers from unfair trade practices and to ensure faster redressal of grievances of consumers; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF STATE
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a) : For giving more teeth to the Consumer Protection legislation, the Consumer Protection Bill, 2015 was introduced in Parliament in August, 2015. The salient features of the Bill include establishment of an executive agency to be called the Central Consumer Protection Authority, simplification of the adjudication process in the three-tier quasi-judicial adjudication system, mediation as an alternate dispute redressal mechanism and provision for product liability action.
(b) & (c) : The mandate of the proposed Consumer Protection Authority is to regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of public and consumers and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.
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