Important Salient Features of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 are given below:
1. The Act provides speedy redressal to consumer complainants. The Bill provides for setting up of a Consumer Redressal Forum in every district, a commission at the state level and the National Commission at the Centre. The Forum in the District will have original jurisdiction to redress complaints up to claim of Rs. 1 lakh (after amendment up to 10 lakhs).
The State Commission will be original jurisdiction to settle claims up to the amount Rs. 10 lakhs (after amendment 20 lakhs). The National Commission can entertain any claim for damages above Rs. 10 lakhs (after amendment above 20 lakhs). The State Commission will be vested with appropriate Appellate and Revisional powers.
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2. To promote voluntary consumer movement and to ensure involvement of consumers. The Bill provides for the establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at centre and in the states. These Councils will have both non-official and official members. The objects of the Councils will be to promote and protect the rights of the consumers.
3. It shall apply to all goods and classes of goods or all services or classes of services except those which are specially exempted by notification by the central government.
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4. The provisions of the Bill shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other law for the time being in force.
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5. Necessary penal and punitive provisions have been corporate to ensure that the proposed legislation is effective in protecting consumers.
6. The complaint can be filed by a consumer or an organization being a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, or a company registered under the Companies Act, representing consumers or by the central or state government.
7. The complaint can be filed on account of any unfair trade practices resulting in loss or damage, defect in the goods, deficiency in the services, prices charged in excess of the prices fixed by or under any law or displayed on the goods/packets.