The Consumer Protection Bill 2018, which will replace the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, aims at strengthening the rights of consumers and providing a mechanism for redressal of their complaints regarding defects in goods and deficiency in services was passed by the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the legislation had not been amended since last three decades and needed changes for strengthening the rights of the consumers.
The Bill, among other things, proposes setting up of the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission and forums at the District, State and National levels for adjudicating consumer complaints. It will have the power to set up a Central Consumer Protection Authority to promote, protect and enforce consumer rights as a class. Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) said the Bill gives excess power to the bureaucracy and should have sunset provisions under which the Bill can come to Parliament for amendments.