Social Science Group Project Roll No. 16-20 10E

Delhi Public School, Jaipur
Subject: Social Science

Topic: Consumer Rights and Consumer
Movement in India
Index
S.NO. CONTENTS PAGE NO.
1. Cover Page 1
2. History of Consumer Movement 3-6
3. Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) 6-
4. Provisions Under the Act
5. Functioning of Consumer Courts in India
6. Example of a Consumer Forum
Team Members: Raghav Agarwal

(Leader), Sagar Maskara, Rajat
Poonia
History of Consumer Movement
• In India, the consumer movement as a ‘social force’
originated with the necessity of protecting and promoting the
interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade
practices.
• It arose out of dissatisfaction of the consumers as many
unfair practices were being indulged in by the sellers.
• Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing,
adulteration of food and edible oil gave birth to the consumer
movement in an organised form in the 1960s.
• Till the 1970s, consumer organisations were largely engaged in writing
articles and holding exhibitions.
• They formed consumer groups to look into the malpractices in ration
shops and overcrowding in the road passenger transport.
• Because of these efforts, the movement succeeded in bringing pressure
on business firms, as well as the government to correct business
conduct which may be unfair and against the interests of consumers at
large.
• A major step taken in 1986 by the Indian government
was the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act
1986, popularly known as COPRA.
Consumer Protection Act
(COPRA), 1986
• The Consumer Protection Act, came into existence and
implemented in 1986, provides Consumer Rights to prevent
consumers from fraud or specified unfair practices. It
safeguards and encourages and gives an opportunity to
consumers to speak against insufficiency and flaws in goods
and services. If traders, manufacturers and distributors follow
any foul trade, this act protects their rights as a consumer.
• This Protection Act covers entire goods and services of all
sectors that are public, private, or cooperative sectors, except
those exempted by the central government. The act provides a
floor for a consumer where one can file their complaint against
the product and the forum takes an action against the concerned
supplier and compensation is granted to the consumer for the
inconvenience he/she has encountered.
(a)Provisions Under the Act
• The right to be protected against marketing of goods which are hazardous to life and
property.
• The right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of
goods to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices.
• The right to be assured, wherever possible, access to an authority of goods at competitive
prices.
• The right to be heard and to be assured that consumers interests will receive due
consideration at appropriate forums.
• The right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of
consumers.
• The right to consumer education.
(b)Functioning of Consumer Courts in India
• Consumer courts were established as Consumer Dispute Resolution

Agencies and they deal with consumer disputes, conflicts and grievances.
• It is a forum where a consumer may file a case against a seller in the case
where the consumer feels that he has been cheated or exploited by the
seller.
• The point of having a separate forum for consumer disputes is to ensure
that such disputes are speedily resolved and make is less expensive.
What is a Consumer Forum?
• The consumer movement in India has led to the formation of various
organisations, locally known as consumer forums or consumer protection
councils.
• They guide consumers on how to file cases in the consumer court on many
occasions.
• They also represent individual consumers in the consumer courts.
• These voluntary organisations also receive financial support from the
government for creating awareness among the people.
Example of a Consumer Forum
• DISTRICT CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL
COMMISSION, MORIGAON:
• The main function of consumer court is to provide some extra
privilege to the consumers and to maintain fair practice by the seller
or the service provider towards the consumer.
• Submitting complaint is very simple and a consumer has no need to
hire any lawyer.
Photo Gallery
Rajat Poonia Raghav Agarwal Sagar Maskara

Social Science Group Project Roll No. 16-20 10E

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Social Science Group Project Roll No. 16-20 10E

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Social Science Group Project Roll No. 16-20 10E

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Delhi Public School, Jaipur

Subject: Social Science

Team Members: Raghav Agarwal

• Consumer courts were established as Consumer Dispute Resolution

Rajat Poonia Raghav Agarwal Sagar Maskara

You might also like