Rajya Sabha passes stringent consumer protection bill

New Delhi: After facing several approvals and rejections, finally the Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 has been passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

Notably, the landmark Bill, which aims to protect the rights of consumers by establishing authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers' dispute, was already passed by the Lok Sabha on July 30.

The Bill, which will replace the more than three decades old Consumer Protection Act, 1986, passed in the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote.

Moving the bill for consideration and passing in the Upper House, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ramvilas Paswan said that the new legislation would ease the overall process of consumer grievance redressal. "This new bill would provide a better mechanism to dispose of consumer complaints in a speedy manner and will help in the disposal of a large number of pending cases in consumer courts across the nation," the Union Minister said.

Assuring all the members of Parliament that their suggestions would be incorporated in the rules to the extent possible within the legal framework, Paswan stated that the bill was long pending legislation and all the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee were incorporated in the bill except for five recommendations.

The bill, among other things, proposes setting up of a Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.

The CCPA would make interventions to prevent consumer detriment arising from unfair trade practices. The agency can also initiate class action, including enforcing recall, refund and return of products. The Bill also envisages a simplified dispute resolution process, has provision for mediation and e-filing of cases. The consumer would be able to file cases in the nearest commission under the jurisdiction of which he resides.