CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 1986

1. WHY CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT COME INFORCE?

1. Right to Safety
Means right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services,
which are hazardous to life and property. The purchased goods and services availed
of should not only meet their immediate needs, but also fulfil long term interests.
Before purchasing, consumers should insist on the quality of the products as well as
on the guarantee of the products and services. They should preferably purchase
quality marked products such as ISI, AGMARK, etc.

2. Right to be informed
Means right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity,
standard and price of goods so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade
practices. Consumer should insist on getting all the information about the product
or service before making a choice or a decision. This will enable him to act wisely
and responsibly and also enable him to desist from falling prey to high pressure
selling techniques.
3. Right to Choose
Means right to be assured, wherever possible of access to variety of goods and
Services at competitive price. In case of monopolies, it means right to be assured of
satisfactory quality and service at a fair price. It also includes right to basic goods
and services. This is because unrestricted right of the minority to choose can mean
a denial for the majority of its fair share.
4. Right to be heard
Means that consumer’s interests will receive due consideration at appropriate
Forums. It also includes right to be represented in various forums formed
to consider the consumer’s welfare. The Consumers should form non-political
and non-commercial consumer organizations which can be given representation
in various committees formed by the Government and other bodies in matters
relating to consumers.

5. Right to seek redressal

Means right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous
Exploitation of consumers. It also includes right to fair settlement of the
Genuine grievances of the consumer. Consumers must make complaint for their
genuine grievances. Many a times their complaint may be of small value but its
impact on the society as a whole may be very large. They can also take the help of
consumer organisations in seeking redressal of their grievances.

6. Right to Consumer Education

Means the right to acquire the knowledge and skill to be an informed consumer
throughout life. Ignorance of consumers, particularly of rural consumers, is mainly
responsible for their exploitation. They should know their rights and must exercise
them. Only then real consumer protection can be achieved with success.

2. WHAT ARE REQUIRMENTS FOR FILLING CONSUMER COMPLAINT

BEFORE CONSUMER REDREESAL FORUM UNDER CONSUMER
PROTECTION ACT 1986
Every Complaint Should Complaints Covers Following Points:
a. Consumer Complaint
b. Affidavit of Complainant
c. Amount of DD be drawn only on a nationalized bank as per Consumer
protection Rules.
d. Notice to Opposite Party.
e. Name & Address of the complainant in full.
f. Name & Address of the Opponent.
g. When and where cause of the complaint arose?
h. Particulars of the complaint in detail.
i. Relief prayed (such as Refund of Interest, Principal Amount. etc.
physical mental torture etc.). While asking for claims, the amount
should be within reasonable limits.
j. Copies of the relevant documents to be enclosed as Exhibits.
k. Total value of relief claimed.
3. WHAT IS JURISDICTION OF THE DISTRICT FORUM/STATE
COMISSION/NATIONAL COMISSION UNDER CONSUMER PROTECTION
ACT 1986 ?
1) If Your Claim is Up to RS. 20 Lakhs
• Where the value of the goods or services and compensation, if
any, claimed upto Rs. 20 Lakhs. Then complaint will come under
Jurisdiction of District Forum.

The President,
The Consumer District Redressal Forum,
2) If Your Claim is above Rs. 20 Lakhs but upto Rs.1 Cores:
• Where the value of the goods or services and compensation, if
any, claimed is above Rs 20 Lakhs but upto Rs. 1 Cores. Then
complaint will come under Jurisdiction of State Commission.
• Appeals against the orders of District Forum.
The President,
STATE CONSUMER COMMISSION
3) If Your Claim is above Rs.1 Cores:
• Where the value of the goods or services and compensation, if
any, claimed exceeds Rs. 1 Cores. Then complaint will come
under Jurisdiction of National Commission.
• Appeals against the orders of any state commission

The President,
NATIONAL CONSUMER REDREESSAL COMMISSION

HOW MUCH FEES REQUIRED TO BE PAID UNDER CONSUMER

PROTECTION ACT?

The Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has

recently issued a circular intimating that with effect from April1, 2004
fees are payable for filing complaints under the Consumer Protection
Act. According to the circular, these fees have been prescribed by the
Central Government, New Delhi, by amending the Central Consumer
Protection Rules. The fees payable are as under:

The fees have to be paid either by demand draft (DD) on a nationalized

bank or through a crossed Indian postal order drawn in favour of the of
the President of the District Forum, Registrar of the State Commission,
or the Registrar of the National Commission as the case may be and
payable at the respective place where the District Forum, State
Commission or National Commission is Situated.

TABLE

SR. AMOUNT OF
TOTAL VALUE OF GOODS OR SERVICES AND THE
NO FEE
COMPENSATION CLAIMED
. PAYABLE
DISTRICT FORUM
(1) Upto one lakh rupees – For complainants who are under Nil
the Below Poverty Line holding Antyodaya Anna Yojana
Cards
(2) Upto one lakh rupees – For complainants other than Rs.100
Antyodaya Anna Yojana card holders.
(3) Above one lakh and upto five lakh rupees Rs.200
(4) Above five lakh and upto ten lakh rupees Rs.400
(5) Above ten lakh and upto twenty lakh rupees Rs.500
STATE COMMISSION
(6) Above twenty lakh and upto fifty lakh rupees Rs.2000
(7) Above fifty lakh and upto one crore rupees Rs.4000
NATIONAL COMMISSION
(8) Above one crore rupees Rs.5000
The complainants who are under the Below Poverty Line shall be entitled for
the exemption of payment of fee only on production of an attested copy of
the Antyodaya Anna Yojana cards

WHAT ARE ADDRESS OF DISTRICT FORUMS IN THE MUMBAI AND

PHONE NUMBERS ?

Central Bombay District Forum Plot No. CS-4/296, Purvatha Bhavan, 1st
Floor, Near Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Opp. M.D. College, General Nagesh
Road, Parel (East), Mumbai-400012 Tel : 24171332.

Bombay Suburban District Forum New Administrative Building 3rd floor,

Near Chetna College, Opposite Dr. Ambedkar Garden
Government Colony, Bandra (East), Mumbai – 400051. Tel : 26551625

South Bombay District Forum Plot No. CS-4/296, Purvatha Bhavan, 1st
Floor, Near Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Opp. M.D. College, General Nagesh
Road, Parel (East), Mumbai-400012 Tel : 24171332.

There is a State Commission in Mumbai. Its address and phone no is :-

Maharashtra State Commission, Room No. 1 & 2, Old Administrative Staff
College, Building, Opp. V.T.Station, Hazarimal Somani Marg, Mumbai -
400001 Tel : 22072097 / 22057409

The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission is located in

New Delhi Its address is:- A Wing, 5 th floor, Janpath Bhawan, Cannaught Place,
New Delhi – 110001. Fax (011) 23712456