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MAHATMA GANDHI:

 “A Consumer is the most important visitor on our

premises. He is not dependant on us. We are on him.
He is not an interruption to our work. ; He is the
purpose of it. We are not doing a favour to a consumer
by giving him an opportunity. He is doing us a favour
by giving an opportunity to serve him”.
o Consumerism is a universal phenomenon.
o It is a social movement.
o Consumerism is all about protection of the
interests of the consumers.
 Consumerism is a process through which the .
consumers seek redress, restitution and remedy for
their dissatisfaction and frustration with the help of
their all organized or unorganized efforts and
activities.
 social movement seeking to protect the rights of
consumers in relation to the producers of goods and
providers of services.

 Consumers search for getting better value of their

money
.
 consumerism should not be considered as consumers’
war against business.
 Consumer’s satisfaction will benefit not only business
but government and society as well.
 The phrase ‘Consumer Protection’ would refer to some
kind of safeguard for the members of the society
(consumers) against malpractices and exploitative
deeds.
 The Consumer Protection Act of India (hereafter it will
be referred as CPA) is one of the most progressive and
comprehensive pieces of legislation which is
compensatory in nature and providing speedy,
inexpensive and simple remedies.
 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
 ANCIENT PERIOD
o Deepest roots dating back to 3200 BC.
o Dharma Sastra were followed which were derived from
‘Vedas’, the primary sources of law
o Mannu Smriti heeds immense importance to
economic aspects of society and in particular unethical
trade practices.
o Manu Smriti plays a pre-dominant role in prevention
of adulteration and it prohibits the sale of any
commodity which was mixed with another commodity.
 .
 Kautilya’s Arthasastra also throws light on some
aspects of consumer rights
 Yajnavalikasmriti deals with the issue of excessive
price charging by the traders and stated that the sale
and purchase should be conducted daily according to
the value fixed by the King.
 Agni Purana also mentions about merchants dealing
fraudulently in respect of quality or price of the
commodity. Such merchants were punished and their
goods were confiscated to the State.
 • MEDIVAL PERIOD
 Alaudddin Khilji and Akbar prescribed serious
punishments for the defaulters and were the
prominent torchbearers of change.
 Allaudin Khilji: improvements in the weights and
measures standardization process and brought
dramatic changes in the transparency practices of
traders with consumers.
 Sher Shah Suri: decimal and centenary systems were
set forth. Quality guidelines were also published by
him for produce, grocery, confectionaries and
pharmaceuticals.
 .
 Akbar: . The laws were strictly enforced and even spies
were employed for watching the proper applicability.
 Even harsh punishments such as amputation of limbs
were provided for violation of the rules
 Accountability and transparency in commodity
transactions were improved during the reign of Akbar.
 • Modern period
 In modern india certain acts enacted by britishers
such as Sale of Goods Act, 1930, Indian Penal Code
1860, Carrier of Goods Act 1865, the Indian Contract
Act 1872, the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 and The
Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 protected the interests
of the consumers.
 Indian Parliament also enacted many laws for the said
purpose such as Prevention of Food Adulteration Act,
1954, The Essential Commodities Act, 1985, The
Specific Relief Act, 1963, Monopolies and Restrictive
Trade Practices Act, 1969
 .
 The consumer protection got a boost when late US
President John F. Kennedy in his declaration in
congress on March 15 1962, declared four basic
consumer rights (Choice, information, Safety and the
right to be heard).
 Hence March 15 is celebrated as World Consumer
Rights day.
 milestone in the history of consumer protection
movement in India is CPA 1986
.
 After the report of Sachhar Committee, on the basis of
UN guidleines, the Consumer Protection Bill, 1986 was
introduced in the Parliament and received the assent
of the President on December 24, 1986
 This day is celebrated as the National Consumer day in
India.
 Some basic rights provided to consumers:
1. Right to safety.
2. Right to information.
3. Right to choose.
4. Right to represent.
5. Right to redressal.
6. Right to education.
.
 In India the Central Council’s object is to ensure these
rights of the consumers throughout the country while
the state councils look to ensure these rights to
consumers within their territories.
 The CPA provides a speedy remedy and the provisions
of it are in addition to the other legislations.
 .

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