A Bird’s Eye View of Consumer Protection Act, 2019

Abstract

Consumer rights must be maintained in order for any economy to thrive. A consumer is an essential component of any economy since he is the individual who purchases or rents goods or services from a seller, hence increasing employment in the country. As a result, defending consumer rights is critical, because the consumer wants and expectations have shifted as a result of globalization and increased awareness. However, because not all sellers and service providers are legitimate, the availability of a huge number of goods and services can sometimes be harmful to the consumer. To resolve consumer complaints and defend their interests, the Consumer Protection Act 1986 was formed. It was a commendable step at the time, and it was modified from time to time. The three-decade-old law, on the other hand, has not kept up with the market and digital technology changes in the country. With Parliament’s approval of the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 and the scrapping of the Consumer Protection Act of 1986, a new era has started in India, which makes consumers more powerful than ever. The focus of the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 is the creation of a Central Consumer Protection Authority in “promoting, protecting and enforcing consumer rights in their classes” as a regulatory entity. The new laws show a clear change from caveat emptor (let the buyer know) to caveat vendor (let the seller know) as the vendor’s unfair trade and fraud are now being punished.