Lok Sabha Passes Consumer Protection Bill 2018 [Read Bill]

The Lok Sabha today passed the Consumer Protection Bill 2018, which seeks to wholly replace the Consumer Protection Act 1986.Union Minister for consumer affairs Ram Vilas Paswan introduced the Bill.The Bill seeks to establish a national level regulator -Central Consumer Protection Authority- to deal with consumer complaints on a proactive measure. The present law does not have a regulator.Also, the Bill contains key provisions dealing with class actions, product liability, misleading advertisements, liability for celebrity endorsements etc. The Bill also addresses new age developments like e-commerce, direct selling, tele-marketing etc.The highlights of the Bill are :-Central Consumer Protection Authority(CCPA)CCPA is a national level regulator dealing with matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of public and consumers. Chapter III of the Bill contains provisions regarding CCPA.CCPA deals with the rights of consumers as a class. It will have an investigation wing headed by a Director General and has powers of search and seizure.The District Collector is empowered to report to the CCPA regarding mass consumer complaints in the concerned jurisdiction.It has power to order recall of goods which are dangerous, hazardous or unsafe and to direct discontinuation of practises which are unfair and prejudicial to the interests of consumers. Based on inquiry reports, the CCPA has power to file complaints before the relevant Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum.It also has the power to impose penalties on manufacturers and celebrity endorsers for misleading advertisements.Misleading advertisementsThe Bill contains provisions to deal with misleading advertisements.'Misleading advertisements' are defined under Clause 2(28) as advertisement, which—(i) falsely describes such product or service; or(ii) gives a false guarantee to, or is likely to mislead the consumers as to the nature, substance, quantity or quality of such product or service; or(iii) conveys an express or implied representation which, if made by the manufacturer or seller or service provider thereof, would constitute an unfair trade practice; or(iv) deliberately conceals important information.Misleading advertisements can attract penalty upto rupees ten lakhs from the CCPA under Clause 21. It is also an offence punishable with with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to fifty lakh rupees as per Clause 89.Liability of celebrity endorsersThe Bill addresses the liability of endorsers."Endorsement”,is defined under Clause 2(18) to mean:-(i) any message, verbal statement, demonstration; or(ii)depiction of the name, signature, likeness or other identifiable personal characteristics of an individual; or(iii)depiction of the name or seal of any institution or organisation,which makes the consumer to believe that it reflects the opinion, finding or experience of the person making such endorsement;The endorser can be levied with penalty up to rupees ten lakhs by the CCPA for false and misleading advertisements, under Clause 21.However, the endorser will not be liable if he has exercised due diligence to verify the veracity of the claims made in the advertisement regarding the product or service being endorsed by him.Product liabilityThe Bill incorporates a special chapter-Chapter VI- to deal with 'product liability'.As per Clause 2(34) “product liability” means the responsibility of a product manufacturer orproduct seller, of any product or service, to compensate for any harm caused to a consumer by such defective product manufactured or sold or by deficiency in services relating thereto;According to 2(22), "harm”, in relation to a product liability, includes—(i) damage to any property, other than the product itself;(ii) personal injury, illness or death;(iii) mental agony or emotional distress attendant to personal injury or illness or damage to property; or(iv) any loss of consortium or services or other loss resulting from a harm referred above.But it will not include any harm caused on account of breach of warranty conditions or any commercial or economic loss, including any direct, incidental or consequential loss relating thereto;'A product liability action may be brought by a complainant against a product manufacturer or a product service provider or a product seller, as the case may be, for any harm caused to him on account of a defective product.It can be brought against even the product seller in certain circumstances like seller exercising substantial control over designing, packing, testing, manufacturing etc, or seller altering or modifying the product. The seller will also be liable if he failed to exercise reasonable care in assembling, inspecting or maintaining such product or he did not pass on the warnings or instructions of the product manufacturer regarding the dangers involved or proper...

Lok Sabha Passes Consumer Protection Bill 2018 [Read Bill]

Manu Sebastian

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