Meaning: -The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was passed to provide better protection of the interest of consumers and for the purpose of establishing of consumer councils and other forms for the settlement of consumer disputes:
Salient Features of Consumer Protection Act are as follows:
1. The Act acknowledges six rights of the consumers:
v Right of Choice
v Right to safety
v Right to be Informed
v Right to be Heard
v Right to Redress, and
v Right to Consumer Education
2. The Act Provides for the establishment of:
v Central Consumer Protection Council at Central Levels
v The State Consumer Protection Council at State Levels, and
v Consumer Disputes Redressal Agencies.
3. The Act is applicable to all private, public or co-operative business sectors.
A trader or a person against whom a complaint is lodged fails to comply with any order made by any council, is punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one month but which may extend to 3 years or with fine shall not be less than Rs. 2000 or may extend to Rs. 10,000 or both