consumer protection in india
Answers
Consumer awareness about their legitimate rights has been constantly growing in recent years.
Consumer protection movement is a part of global recognition and concern that consumers are a weak party in buying goods and services as compared to the manufacturers and traders producing and selling the
Ideally, a market economy where firms compete to sell goods and services to the consumers should serve the interests of consumers better but more often than not the consumers are exploited by the adoption of unfair and restrictive trade practices. Far from being a sovereign the consumer is a child who is too weak to resist or challenge the suppliers of goods and services.
Therefore, even in a free market economy he needs protection of his rights by a legal authority. Consumer protection is necessary even in a controlled economy where public enterprises play a dominant role since consumers are likely to be denied their rights in their case too.
Most consumers buy goods and services after being lured by advertisements exaggerating the contents and quality of their products or services. Legal support to them is required if they are to be protected from the exploitation and deception by the suppliers so that erring vendors are brought to book.
It is this increasing realisation of the helplessness of the consumers and to ensure their legitimate rights that led to the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 1985 recommending to the member states for adopting preventive, protective and curative measures for the benefit of consumers.
For the protection of consumers various steps have been taken
1. consumers are given right to chose, right to information, right in a case of damage , right to go to court
2 Many consumer movements are started
3 Government has also made advertisement to make consumers awake.