National Consumer Day for justice

Why December 24 is celebrated as National Consumer Day? Has the Consumer Protection Act succeeded in protecting consumers? Do Consumer Courts offer speedy and simple redressal of consumer complaints? How can long delays in Consumer Courts be avoided?

- Adv Shirish V Deshpande

December 24 is celebrated as National Consumer Day as, on this day in 1986, the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) came into effect. The Act was the first of its kind which recognised six Consumer Rights: Right to safety; Right to information; Right to choice; Right to redressal of consumer grievances; Right to be heard and Right to consumer education.

For promoting and protecting these consumer rights the CPA provided for the establishment of Consumer Protection Conferences at district, state and national levels. On the other hand, the CPA also provided for the establishment of a three-tier consumer dispute redressal mechanism at district, state and national levels, which is commonly referred to as consumer courts or consumer commissions.