Consumer Protection Act, 1986


The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was an Act of the Parliament of India enacted in 1986 to protect the interests of consumers in India. It was replaced by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. It was made for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumer's grievances and matters connected there with it. The act was passed in Assembly in October 1986 and came into force on December 24, 1986. The statute on the right was made before this COPRA act

Significance of the Act

This Act is regarded as the 'Magna Carta' in the field of consumer protection for checking unfair trade practices, ‘defects in goods’ and ‘deficiencies in services’ as far as India is concerned. It has led to the establishment of a widespread network of consumer forums and appellate courts all over India. It has significantly impacted how businesses approach consumer complaints and have empowered consumers to a greater extent.

Consumer Protection Council

Consumer Protection Councils are established at the national, state and district level to increase consumer awareness.

Various Consumer Organisations

To increase the awareness of consumers, there are many consumer organisations and NGOs that have been established.
CONSUMER GUIDANCE SOCIETY OF INDIA was THE FIRST CONSUMER ORGANISATION ESTABLISHED IN INDIA IN 1966.
It was followed by many others such as
Consumer Education And Research Centre
Bureau Of Indian Standards
Federation Of Consumer Organisation In Tamil Nadu
Mumbai Grahak Panchayat
Consumer Voice
Legal Aid Society
Akhil Bhartiya Grahak Panchayat
The Consumers Eye India.
United India Consumer's Association.

Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies

Objectives of Central Council

The objectives of the Central Council is to promote and to protect the rights of the consumers such as:-
  1. The right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property.
  2. The right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services, as the case may be to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices;
  3. The right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices ;
  4. The right to be heard and to be assured that consumer's interest will receive due consideration at appropriate forums;
  5. The right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or restrictive trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers
  6. The right to consumer education.

    Jurisdiction/Three Tier System of Council Courts

Jurisdiction of District Forum

  1. Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the District Forum shall have jurisdiction to entertain complaints where the value of the goods or services and the compensation, if any, claimed does not exceed rupees twenty lakhs.
  2. A complaint shall be instituted in a District Forum within the local limits of whose jurisdiction:-
Consumer courts do not have jurisdiction over matters where services or goods were bought for a commercial purpose.

Jurisdiction of State Commission

Subject to the other provisions of this Act, the State Commission shall have jurisdiction:-

Jurisdiction of National Commission