Consumer Protection Act,2019: What’s New? What it Lacks?
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 today becomes a Law in India: Whats New? Why New Law was needed ? New modes of business like telemarketing, direct selling, multilevel marketing, e-commerce etc which were not envisaged thirty years before and now had made consumers more vulnerable to unfair trade practices. Earlier, direct selling and multilevel marketing were regulated through guidelines issued by state governments and the consumer affairs ministry. This new Consumer Protection Act brings these activities in its fold. Besides expanding the scope of grievances that consumers can complain against, the new framework also gives the regulator suo moto powers. The 1986 Act had a three-tier structure that could be utilised by an aggrieved consumer for adjudicating any complaint. However, it did not provide for a regulator who could initiate or intervene on a preventive basis. For instance, direct product recalls or withdrawal of services which are dangerous or unsafe, dir...