Consumer Protection Act, 2019

This act is also focused on continuing the formally defined institutions created by the COPRA,1986 to take up cases and decisions related to consumer protection. It allows the central government to move away the burden of establishing consumer protection laws from the parliament and the burden of litigation from the courts; by providing an alternate pathway for the governments and citizens alike to approach, deliberate, discuss and decide on matters related to consumer protection in the interest of consumers.

This act also allows for the establishment of independent statutory authority bodies on both the levels of the centre and the state to have jurisdiction over consumer protection law and cases. These bodies have a wide range of powers, including but not limited to search and seizure, declaration of judgements, protection of good-faith decisions. These bodies have formal internal structure with their own investigative wing to conduct research into a particular case.

They have the right to recall goods, refer the matter to other regulators for investigating a case on all fronts, to issue directions and penalties against false or misleading advertisements.

This act allows for the creation of commissions to which consumers can approach and place their concerns on the levels of the district, state, and centre. They function in a manner similar to the courts, and have complete jurisdiction over declaration of case judgements. Their function is similar to ones defined in the COPRA, 1986.

The job of the body is to advise the central government and the prime minister on issues to be mitigated and policies to be made regarding consumer protection.

The consumer protection bill 2019 primarily defines the following consumer rights.

1. Be protected against marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property.
2. Be informed of the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods and services.
3. Be assured of access to a variety of goods or services at competitive prices.
4. Seek redressal against unfair and restrictive trade practices.^[11]