What is the rationale behind the enactment of consumer protection act 1986?

Answer 1

. IntroductionThe Consumer Protection Act 1986 is a social welfare legislation which was enacted as a result of widespread consumer protection movement. The main object of the legislature in the enactment of this act is to provide for the better protection of the interests of the consumer and to make provisions for establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for settlement of consumer disputes and matter therewith connected.

In order to promote and protect the rights and interests of consumers, quasi judicial machinery is sought to be set up at district, state and central levels. These quasi judicial bodies have to observe the principles of natural justice and have been empowered to give reliefs, of specific nature and also to impose penalties for non compliance of the orders given by such bodies.

The main object of these bodies is to provide speedy and simple redressal to consumer disputes. It is one of the benevolent pieces of legislation intended to protect the consumers at large from exploitation.

ii. How the act was enacted ?The act was passed in Lok Sabha on 9th December,1986 and Rajya Sabha on 10th December, 1986 and assented by the President of India on 24th December, 1986 and was published in the Gazette of India on 26th December, 1986.

This act was enacted in the 37th year of the Republic of India and was amended from time to time in the following years i.e. 1991, 1993 and 2002.

iii. The Act - Consumer Protection Act India 1986An act to provide for better protection of the interests of consumers and for that purpose to make provision for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumer disputes and for matters connected therewith.