The Central Consumer Protection Council.

The Central Consumer Protection Council.—

The Consumer Protection Act empowers the Central Government to establish a Central Consumer Protection Council consisting of the Minister in charge of consumer affairs in the Central Government as its Chairman and such number of other official and non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed. Under the Consumer Protection Council Rules 1987, the membership of the Council is restricted to 150 members including the Central Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs as the Chairman. The term of the Council is three years. To monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Council, the Central Government may constitute a standing working group from amongst the members of the council under the Chairmanship of the Member Secretary of the Council. The Council shall meet as and when necessary, but at least one meeting of the Council shall be held at such time and place as the Chairman may think fit.

(1) The Central Government shall, by notification, establish with effect from such date as it may specify in such notification, a Council to be known as the Central Consumer Protection Council (hereinafter referred to as the Central Council).
(2) The Central Council shall consist of the following members, namely:—
(a) the Minister in charge of the consumer affairs in the Central Government, who shall be its Chairman, and
(b) such number of other official or non-official members represent­ing such interests as may be prescribed.
5. Procedure for meetings of the Central Council.—(1) The Central Council shall meet as and when necessary, but at least one meeting of the Council shall be held every year.
(2) 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.
6. Objects of the Central Council.—The objects of the Central Council shall be to promote and protect the rights of the consumers such as,—
(a) the right to be protected against the marketing of goods and services which are hazardous to life and property;
(b) the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services, as the case may be so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices;
(c) the right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices;
(d) the right to be heard and to be assured that consumer's interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forums;
(e) the right to seek redressal against unfair trade practices or restrictive trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of con­sumers; and
(f) the right to consumer education.
7. The State Consumer Protection Councils.—
The Consumer Protection Act provides for the establishment of State Consumer Protection Councils by the State Governments. The State Council shall consist of a Minister in charge of consumer affairs in the State Government as its Chairman and such number of other official or non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed by the State Government and ten nominees of the Central Government. The State Council shall meet as and when necessary but not less than two meetings shall be held every year at such time and place as the Chairman may think fit.
( l ) The State Government shall, by notification, establish with effect from such date as it may specify in such notification, a Council to be known as the Consumer Protection Council for..................... (hereinafter referred to as the State Council).
(2) The State Council shall consist of the following members, namely:—
(a) the Minister incharge 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.

(3) The State Council shall meet as and when necessary but not less than two meetings shall be held every year.
(4) The State 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 by the State Government.

8. Objects of the State Council.—The objects of every State Council shall be to promote and protect within the State the rights of the consumers laid down in clauses (a) to (f) of section 6.

8A.

In order to promote and protect the rights of consumers, within the district, the Consumer Protection Act, provides for the establishment of a District Consumer Protection Council in every district. It shall consist of the Collector of the district as its Chairman and such number of other official and non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed by the State Government. It shall meet as and when necessary but not less then two meetings shall be held every year. The Chairman shall decide the time and place of the meeting.

 (1) The State Government shall establish for every district, by notification, a council to be known as the District Consumer Protection Council with effect from such date as it may specify in such notification.
(2) The District Consumer Protection Council (hereinafter referred to as the District Council) shall consist of the following members, namely:—
(a) the Collector of the district (by whatever name called), who shall be its Chairman; and
(b) such number of other official and non-official members representing such interests as may be prescribed by the State Government.
(3) The District Council shall meet as and when necessary but not less than two meetings shall be held every year.
(4) The District 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.

8B. The objects of every District Council shall be to promote and protect within the district the rights of the consumers laid down in clauses (a) to (f) of section 6.

Composition and Functions of the Councils:

Central Council (Sec. 4):

The Central Council will be composed of following members:

1. The Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs of the union government will be the chairperson of the Council.

2. Such members official and non-official representing such interests as may be prescribed.

The Central Council meets as and when necessary. At least one meeting shall be held every year. The time and place of the meeting will be fixed by the Chairman. The procedure in regard to the transactions of the business shall also be determined by the Chairman. (Sec 5).

State Council (Sec. 7):

A State Council shall be composed of the following members, namely,

1. The Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs of the state government will act as Chairman.

2. Such members official and non-official representing such interests as may be prescribed by the state government.

The State Council shall meet as and when necessary. The time and place of the meeting shall be fixed by the Chairman. The Council shall observe such procedure regard to the transactions of its business as may be prescribed by the state government. At least two meetings shall be held every year.

Composition of the District Forum

[ 27 (1) Each District Forum shall consist of, -

(a) a person who is, or has been, or is qualified to be a District Judge, who shall be its President;

(b) two other members, who shall be persons of ability, integrity and standing, and have adequate knowledge or experience of, or have shown capacity in dealing with, problems relating to economics, law, commerce, accountancy, industry, public affairs or administration, one of whom shall be a woman. 27 ]