Here are the rights and duties of consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019:
Rights of Consumers (Section 6):
- Right to safety –
Right to safety against such goods and services which are hazardous to health and property of consumer. They should preferably purchase quality marked products like ISI, Agmark, etc.
- Right to be informed –
The consumer has the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, and police price of goods, so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices.
- Right to choose –
The consumer has the right to be assure, wherever possible, access to variety of goods and services at competitive price.
In case of monopoly, it means right to be assured of satisfactory quality and service at a fair price.
- Right to be heard –
Consumers have the right to be heard. The consumers’ interest will receive due consideration at appropriate forum. There’s also right to be represented in various forums, formed to consider the consumers’ welfare.
- Right to seek redressal –
Consumers have the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices. It also includes right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances of the consumer. Many a times their complaint may be of small value, but its impact on the society as a whole may be very large.
A consumer can claim compensation for damages caused by any product/service. He/she can file a case in consumer court against the shopkeeper/manufacturer.
- Right to consumer education –
The consumers have the right to acquire knowledge and skills to be an informed consumer throughout life. Ignorance of consumers, particularly of rural consumers, is responsible for their exploitation. They should know their rights and exercise them.
Duties of Consumer:
With consumer rights in hand, it is the responsibility of the consumer to also follow through on several duties provided to them. Consumer duties are just as important as consumer rights.
The following are some of the important consumer duties:
- Buying quality products at reasonable price.
Consumers must make sure that the products they are purchasing are of good quality, and have been quality marked such as Agmark, ISI, Hallmark, etc.
- Read information carefully on the products.
Consumers should always make sure that they have read and understood all the information available about a product and make an informed choice.
- Consumers should check the weights and measures before purchasing commodity.
- Insist on bills of purchase.
Consumers should always insist on bills of purchase from the seller so that if there is a problem with the purchase, the issue can be immediately sorted out.
- File consumer complaints against defect in goods, deficiency in services, or unfair trade practices.
Consumers have the responsibility to call out exploitative behaviour and unfair trade practices on part of a seller.
