State plans awareness drive on consumer Act

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 24

The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department will start a state-wide awareness campaign on the Consumer Protection Act 2019.

Speaking at a state-level function on the occasion of National Consumer Day, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said a massive awareness drive to educate the masses about the Consumer Protection Act would be started soon, and it would benefit a large number of people.

Speaking on the occasion, Ashu said under the new Consumer Protection Act, there would be penalties for misleading advertisements by a manufacturer or an endorser. A Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) would impose penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment for up to two years. In case of a subsequent offence, the fine may be extended to Rs 50 lakh and five-year imprisonment.

For the period of up to one year, the CCPA can also prohibit the endorser of a misleading advertisement from endorsing that particular product or service.

He said in the Consumer Protection Act 1986, there was no separate regulator, the complaint could be filed in a consumer court where the seller’s (defendant) office was located. Whereas under the Consumer Protection Act-2019, the CCPA would be the regulator. At the district, state and national level, Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions will be set up.