L-22- CONSUMER PROTECTION
A.
One Word to One Sentence Questions
Q. 1. What is consumerism?
Ans. Various efforts made for the
protection of the interests of the consumers are known as consumerism.
Q. 2. What is consumer protection?
Ans. It refers to various steps taken
to protect and promote the rights of consumers.
Q. 3. Name various ways and
means of consumer protection.
Ans. Measures adopted by consumers,
NGOs, business sector, government, press, educational institutions.
Q. 4. Name the three types
of consumer courts in India.
Ans. (a) District Form (b) State
Commission (c) National Commission.
Q. 5. What is District Forum?
Ans. Consumer disputes redressal
court at district level is called District Forum.
Q. 6. What is State Commission?
Ans. Consumer disputes redressal court
at state level is called State Commission.
Q. 7. What is National Commission?
Ans. Consumer disputes redressal
court at national level is called National Commission.
Q. 8. What is the
composition of District Forum?
Ans. District Forum has one president
and two other members, out of which one must be a woman.
Q. 9. What is the
composition of State Commission?
Ans. One president and not less than
two members, one of whom shall a woman.
Q. 10. What is the
composition of National Commission?
Ans. One president and four other
members, one of whom shall be a woman.
Q.11. Give the
qualifications of members of District Forum?
Ans. Age 35 years, graduate degree,
person of ability, integrity and reputation, 10 years of experience in problem
solving in specific fields.
Q. 12. What is the
jurisdiction of District forum?
Ans. District Forum can admit such
complaints for hearing where the value of goods and services, is not more than
Rs. 20 lakh.
Q. 13. What is the
jurisdiction of National Commission?
Ans. Jurisdiction: (i) The value of
goods and services, is at least Rs. 1 crore or more than that. (ii) An appeal
has to be made against the orders of a State Commission.
Q. 14. What is the
limitation period for filing a complaint?
Ans. Within two years from the date
on which the cause of action has arisen.
Q. 15. How many rights are
given to consumers under Consumer Protection Act, 1986?
Ans. Six Rights.
B.
Fill in the Blanks
1. A Consumer is exposed to many hazards.
2. A customer has six rights under Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
3. Redressal of consumer disputes can
be done at three levels.
4. Consumer does not include any
person who buys goods for resale and commercial
purpose.
5. BIS certificate is used to certify the quality of
products.
C.
True or False
1. Consumer protection can be better
ensured with consumer self-help. True
2. National Commission decides all
the cases within sixty days. False
3. District Forum consist of four
persons. False
4. The Sale of Goods Act was passed
in 1930. True
5. No appeal can be made against the
order of National Commission. False
D.
MCQ
1. The Consumer Protection
Act was passed in the year:
(a) 1987 (b)
1986
(c) 1989 (d)
1999.
Ans. (b) 1986
2. Which act was enacted to
control production supply and distribution of essential commodities in India?
(a) The Essential
Commodities Act, 1955
(b) The Sale of Goods Act,
1930
(c) The Essential
Commodities Act, 1940
(d) None of these.
Ans. (a) The Essential Commodities
Act, 1955
3. 'Consumer has the right
to acquire knowledge' identify the right of the consumer.
(a) Right to Information (b) Right
to Choose
(c) Right to Consumer
Education (d) Right
to Safety.
Ans. (c) Right to Consumer Education
4. Name the act, which
prevents the use of fraudulent marks on products.
(a) The Trade Act 1989 (b) The Competition
Act, 2002
(c) The Trade Marks Act,
1999 (d) The Trade Marks Act, 2009
Ans. (c) The Trade Marks Act, 1999
5. The best measure for
consumer protection is:
(a) Legal Remedies (b) Consumer Education
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these.
Ans. (b) Consumer Education
6. Consumer protection is
needed because
(a) Consumers are
unorganised
(b) Consumers are exploited
by business sector
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these.
Ans. (b) Consumers are exploited by
business sector
Two
Marks Questions:
Q. 1. Define consumerism.
Ans. Various efforts made for the
protection of the interests of the consumers are known as consumer protection.
It is also referred to as consumerism. Under it, consumers are made aware of
their rights and duties and; such an business environment is created in which
there is no exploitation of the consumers.
Q. 2. What do you mean by
consumer protection?
Ans. Consumer protection is concerned
with the protection of the interests of the consumers. For consumer protection,
three parties are expected to behave responsibly. First of all, it is business
world, secondly, it is government thirdly, it is the consumers.
Q. 3. What is right to
information?
Ans. Every consumer has a right that
he can ask for complete information from the producer or seller about the
price, quality and purity of the product, name and address of the producer,
date of manufacturing, expiry date, method of use, side effects (If any),
ingredients, guarantee, after-sale services, free facilities or gifts etc.
available with product. This information proves highly useful in making an
appropriate purchase decision.
Q. 4. What is the right to
seek redressal?
Ans. A consumer has the right that he
should be duly compensated after the redressal of any of his complaint
regarding improper business behaviour, deceit, exploitation or restrictive
trade practice. It is with this purpose that consumer courts have been set-up
through-out the country to redress the consumer complaints.
Q. 5. What is the amount of
penalty in case of non-compliance with orders of a consumer court?
Ans. Penalties have been described in
Section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Under this section, if any
person or businessman against whom a complaint has been filed or even
complainant, fails to obey the order of the Consumer Court or deliberately
neglects the order, then he can be punished with a minimum of one month and a
maximum of three year imprisonment or a minimum of Z 2000 and a maximum of Z 10000
fine or with both of these.
Q. 6. Who is a consumer
according to the Consumer Protection Act, 1986?
Ans. According to Section 2(I) (d) of
'Consumer Protection Act, 1986' of India; a consumer refers to:
(i) Any person who buys any goods or,
avails or hires any services by making a payment or by making a promise to make
a payment.
(ii) Any person who buys any goods
under any system of deferred payments. Any person who avails or hires any
services on contract.
Q. 7. Who can file a
complaint in a consumer court?
Ans.
1. By a consumer
2. By any consumer association which
is registered.
3. By centre government or any state
government.
4. By any one consumer on behalf of
the common consumers or more than one consumers.
5. By the legal heir or a
representative of a deceased person.
Four
Marks Questions:
Q. 1. Write any four rights
of consumer.
Ans. 1. Right to Choose: For the satisfaction of his
wants, a consumer has right to choose an appropriate product. In order to do
so, he can ask for making a careful examination of goods available for sale
with the seller.
2.
Right to Safety: A consumer has the right that he
should be protected from such products which may prove dangerous to his health
or life. Consumers have the right that they should be protected from such
defects in these products which may prove dangerous to their life and health.
3.
Right to Information : Every consumer has a right that he
can ask for complete information from the producer or seller about the price,
quality and purity of the product, name and address of the producer, date of
manufacturing, expiry date, method of use, side effects (If any), ingredients,
guarantee, after-sale services, free facilities or gifts etc. available with
product.
4.
Right to Consumer Education: Consumer has the right to consumer
education also. Every consumer has the right that he can get complete
information about Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and various other such laws and
rules which have been enacted and implemented for the protection of rights and
interests of the consumer.
Q. 2. State any four
responsibilities of consumer.
Ans. 1. Consumer must be Cautions: Consumer should
never be careless while purchasing or consuming the products. If consumer is
aware and cautious, then no seller or producer can either cheat or exploit him.
2.
Insistence on Cash Memo: While purchasing any product,
consumer must obtain cash memo. If any problem arises regarding the product,
then this cash memo proves highly useful in lodging the complaint without this
cash memo, it is not possible to lodge the complaint.
3.
Consumer must be Honest: A consumer must be honest. He should
exercise utmost honesty while carrying out any transaction. He should neither
indulge in illegal activities, nor promote such activities.
4.
Consumer must Exercise His Rights: Consumers have got
several rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Consumer must be aware
about these rights and he must exercise these rights.
Q. 3. Write any four
salient features of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986?
Ans. 1. Coverage of Products: This act applies to all
the goods and services. Only those goods and services can be out of the ambit
of this act which have been kept out of this act on the orders of the
government.
2.
Coverage of Sectors: This act applies to all the sectors
i.e. public sector, private sector and joint sector as well.
3.
Compensatory by Nature: The provisions of this act are
compensatory by nature. The primary objective of its provisions is compensate
the loss of the consumers.
4.
Consumer Rights and Protection of Consumer Rights: Under this act, six specific rights have been provided to the consumer.
Special provisions have been enacted to protect these rights as well.
Q. 4. Discuss the role of
non-governmental organisations (NGO's) in protecting the consumers.
Ans. 1. Consumer Education: These organisations provide
consumer education to the common consumers through training programmes,
seminars, meetings, conferences etc. This results in the spread of consumer
education.
2.
Redressal of Consumer Complaints: These organisations
help in the redressal of consumer complaints. These also help to solve the
problems of the consumers as well. These also provide legal help to the
consumers.
3.
Testing of Product Quality: By getting the product quality
verified by the certified laboratories, these organisations publish the results
for consumers and general public. Hence, these organisations ensure the
availability of quality products for the consumers,
4.
Encouragement to Consumers: Consumer organisations and
non-governmental organisations encourage the consumers to raise their voice
against any deceit or exploitation. The main objective of doing so is to
protect the interests of the consumers.
