The Consumer Protection Act, 2019

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019

Civil2019107 sections8 chapters

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, safeguards consumer rights across India by regulating all goods and services, including e-commerce transactions. It applies to individual buyers, electronic service providers, manufacturers, and product sellers. By establishing the Central Consumer Protection Authority, the law targets unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, and unsafe items. This matters because it introduces strict product liability rules, allowing consumers to claim compensation directly for harm caused by defective goods or deficient services. Supported by a three-tiered dispute redressal commission system and mediation options, this law empowers everyday citizens with consumer awareness and accessible legal remedies against unfair commercial exploitation.

Chapter I PRELIMINARY →

  1. 1Short title, extent, commencement and application
  2. 2Definitions

Chapter II CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCILS. →

  1. 3Central Consumer Protection Council
  2. 4Procedure for meetings of Central Council
  3. 5Objects of Central Council
  4. 6State Consumer Protection Councils
  5. 7Objects of State Council
  6. 8District Consumer Protection Council
  7. 9Objects of District Council

Chapter III CENTRAL CONSUMER PROTECTION AUTHORITY →

  1. 10Establishment of Central Consumer Protection Authority
  2. 11Qualifications, method of recruitment, etc., of Chief Commissioner and Commissioners
  3. 12Vacancy, etc., not to invalidate proceedings of Central Authority
  4. 13Appointment of officers, experts, professionals and other employees of Central Authority
  5. 14Procedure of Central Authority
  6. 15Investigation Wing
  7. 16Power of District Collector
  8. 17Complaints to authorities
  9. 18Powers and functions of Central Authority
  10. 19Power of Central Authority to refer matter for investigation or to other Regulator
  11. 20Power of Central Authority to recall goods, etc.
  12. 21Power of Central Authority to issue directions and penalties against false or misleading advertisements
  13. 22Search and seizure
  14. 23Designation of any statutory authority or body to function as Central Authority
  15. 24Appeal
  16. 25Grants by Central Government
  17. 26Accounts and audit
  18. 27Furnishing of annual reports, etc.

Chapter IV CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION →

  1. 28Establishment of District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
  2. 29Qualifications, etc., of President and members of District Commission
  3. 30Salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of President and members of District Commission
  4. 31Transitional provision
  5. 32Vacancy in office of member of District Commission
  6. 33Officers and other employees of District Commission
  7. 34Jurisdiction of District Commission
  8. 35Manner in which complaint shall be made
  9. 36Proceedings before District Commission
  10. 37Reference to mediation
  11. 38Procedure on admission of complaint
  12. 39Findings of District Commission
  13. 40Review by District Commission in certain cases
  14. 41Appeal against order of District Commission
  15. 42Establishment of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
  16. 43Qualifications, etc., of President and members of State Commission
  17. 44Salaries, allowances and other terms and conditions of service of President and members of State Commission
  18. 45Transitional provision
  19. 46Officers and employees of State Commission
  20. 47Jurisdiction of State Commission
  21. 48Transfer of cases
  22. 49Procedure applicable to State Commission
  23. 50Review by State Commission in certain cases
  24. 51Appeal to National Commission
  25. 52Hearing of appeal
  26. 53Establishment of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
  27. 54Composition of National Commission
  28. 55Qualifications, etc., of President and members of National Commission
  29. 56Transitional provision
  30. 57Other officers and employees of National Commission
  31. 58Jurisdiction of National Commission
  32. 59Procedure applicable to National Commission
  33. 60Review by National Commission in certain cases
  34. 61Power to set aside ex parte orders
  35. 62Transfer of cases
  36. 63Vacancy in office of President of National Commission
  37. 64Vacancies or defects in appointment not to invalidate orders
  38. 65Service of notice, etc.
  39. 66Experts to assist National Commission or State Commission
  40. 67Appeal against order of National Commission
  41. 68Finality of orders
  42. 69Limitation period
  43. 70Administrative control
  44. 71Enforcement of orders of District Commission, State Commission and National Commission
  45. 72Penalty for non-compliance of order
  46. 73Appeal against order passed under section 72

Chapter V MEDIATION →

  1. 74Establishment of consumer mediation cell
  2. 75Empanelment of mediators
  3. 76Nomination of mediators from panel
  4. 77Duty of mediator to disclose certain facts
  5. 78Replacement of mediator in certain cases
  6. 79Procedure for mediation
  7. 80Settlement through mediation
  8. 81Recording settlement and passing of order

Chapter VI PRODUCT LIABILLITY →

  1. 82Application of Chapter
  2. 83Product liability action
  3. 84Liability of product manufacturer
  4. 85Liability of product service provider
  5. 86Liability of product sellers
  6. 87Exceptions to product liability action

Chapter VII OFFENCES AND PENALTIES →

  1. 88Penalty for non-compliance of direction of Central Authority
  2. 89Punishment for false or misleading advertisement
  3. 90Punishment for manufacturing for sale or storing, selling or distributing or importing products containing adulterant
  4. 91Punishment for manufacturing for sale or for storing or selling or distributing or importing spurious goods
  5. 92Cognizance of offence by court
  6. 93Vexatious search

Chapter VIII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 94Measures to prevent unfair trade practices in e-commerce, direct selling, etc.
  2. 95Presidents, members, Chief Commissioner, Commissioner and certain officers to be public servants
  3. 96Compounding of offences
  4. 97Manner of crediting penalty
  5. 98Protection of action taken in good faith
  6. 99Power to give directions by Central Government
  7. 100Act not in derogation of any other law
  8. 101Power of Central Government to make rules
  9. 102Power of State Government to make rules
  10. 103Power of National Commission to make regulations
  11. 104Power of Central Authority to make regulations
  12. 105Rules and regulations to be laid before each House of Parliament
  13. 106Power to Remove Difficulties
  14. 107Repeal and savings