Consumer Protection Councils

The Preamble of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 states that the Act has been enacted to provide for better protection of the interests of consumers and for that purpose to make provision for the establishment of consumer protection councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumer disputes and for matters connected therewith.

Establishment of Consumer Protection Councils –

The interests of consumers are sought to be promoted and protected under the Act inter alia by establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the Central, State and District Levels.

Chapter II of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 comprising Sections 4 to 8 deals with Consumer Protection Councils.

Central Consumer Protection Councils –

Section 4 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 empowers the Central Government to establish a council known as the Central Consumer Protection Council. It shall consist of the following members –

(a) The Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs in the Central Government, as its Chairman, and

(b) Such number of other officials or non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed.

Rule 3 of the Consumer Protection Rules, 1987 states that the number of members of Central Consumer Protection Council shall not exceed 150 members.

The Central Council shall meet as and when necessary but there shall be held atleast one meeting in a year. The Central Council shall meet at such time and place as the Chairman may think fit and shall observe such procedure in regard to the transaction of its business as may be prescribed.

State Consumer Protection Councils –

Section 7 of the Act provides for the establishment of the State Consumer Protection Councils by any State Government to be known as Consumer Protection Council for (name of the State). The object of every State Council shall be to promote and protect within the State the rights of the consumers.

The State Council shall consist of the following members, namely :—

(a) the Minister in-charge of consumer affairs in the State Government who shall be its Chairman;

(b) such number of other official or non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed by the State Government;

(c) such number of other official or non-official members, not exceeding ten, as may be nominated by the Central Government.

The State Council shall meet as and when necessary but not less than two meetings shall be held every year.

The State Council shall meet at such time and place as the Chairman may think fit. The procedure to be observed in regard to the transaction of its business at such meetings shall be prescribed by the State Government.

District Consumer Protection Councils –

In order to promote and protect the rights of the consumers within the district, Section 8A of the Act provides for the establishment in every district of a council to be known as the District Consumer Protection Councils.

It shall consist of the following members –

(a) the collector of the district as its Chairman;

(b) such number of other official and non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed by the State Government.

The District Consumer Protection Council shall meet as and when necessary but not less than two meetings shall be held every year.The District Consumer Protection Council shall meet at such time and place within the district as the Chairman may think fit and shall observe such procedure in regard to the transaction of its business as may be prescribed by the State Government.