KEY FEATURES OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2019

KEY FEATURES OF THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2019:

1. Act to provide for protection of the interest of consumers and for the said purpose, to establish authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers disputes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
2. It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different states and for different provisions of this act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of that provision.
3. The Act consists of 107 sections in eight chapters.
4. It provides various provisions for better protection of the interest of consumers.
5. It provides provisions for the Consumer Protection Council at different levels i.e., Central Council, State Council and District Council, with the object to render advice on promotion and protection of the consumers' rights.
6. The Act stipulates provisions for Central Consumer Protection Authority to regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practises and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interest of public and consumers and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers as a class.
7. The Act has provisions for Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission at three levels such as District Commission, State Commission and National Commission.
8. The Act contains provisions for Consumer Mediation Cell and for the purpose of mediation, the National Commission or the State Commission or the District Commission as the case may be, shall prepare a panel of the mediators to be maintained by the consumer mediation cell attached to it.
9. The Act also has provided for various offenses related to consumers interest  and provides  penalties for these offenses.
10. This Act endows power in Central Government, State Government and the National Commission to make rules nexus with the object of the Act.