Post-MRTPC, consumer bodies can move court
The government is planning to expand the scope of consumer protection legislation to allow all trade and consumer associations to move consumer courts when the MRTP Commission dealing with them is eventually wound up.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: The government is planning to expand the scope of consumer protection legislation to allow all trade and consumer associations to move consumer courts when the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Commission dealing with them is eventually wound up.
The company affairs ministry has written to the consumer affairs ministry to amend the Consumer Protection Act so that complaints from consumers on unfair trade practices will not be orphaned when the MRTP Commission is replaced by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
Presently, associations registered with the company affairs ministry alone can move consumer courts, besides individual consumers as per the Consumer Protection Act. The MRTP Commission, however, has been dealing with cases from any registered trade and consumer associations.
Experts said while this would help consumers get compensation when they are hurt, the larger issue of unfair trade practices affecting market competition will remain unresolved. The expert body of CCI will examine only instances of monopoly and restrictive trade practices affecting competition.
According to an official, this shift will be helpful to consumers as there are consumer courts across the country, while MRTP hears cases only in the capital. Cases where the complainant is not a natural person and not registered with the ministry, have to be accommodated in an appropriate forum, said the official.
According to a source, the ministry no longer registers consumer associations as it has been the subject of the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution. Nearly 400 such unfair trade practices cases are pending with the commission where consumer interest has been compromised.
The company affairs ministry has written to the consumer affairs ministry to amend the Consumer Protection Act so that complaints from consumers on unfair trade practices will not be orphaned when the MRTP Commission is replaced by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
Presently, associations registered with the company affairs ministry alone can move consumer courts, besides individual consumers as per the Consumer Protection Act. The MRTP Commission, however, has been dealing with cases from any registered trade and consumer associations.
Experts said while this would help consumers get compensation when they are hurt, the larger issue of unfair trade practices affecting market competition will remain unresolved. The expert body of CCI will examine only instances of monopoly and restrictive trade practices affecting competition.
According to an official, this shift will be helpful to consumers as there are consumer courts across the country, while MRTP hears cases only in the capital. Cases where the complainant is not a natural person and not registered with the ministry, have to be accommodated in an appropriate forum, said the official.
According to a source, the ministry no longer registers consumer associations as it has been the subject of the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution. Nearly 400 such unfair trade practices cases are pending with the commission where consumer interest has been compromised.
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