Commercial Rights under Consumer Protection Act and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Abstract

Consumer Protection Act (CPA) is dedicated as its preamble shows, to provide for better protection of the interests of consumers and for that purpose to make provision for the establishment of consumer council and other authorities for settlement of consumer disputes and for other concerned matters. In the settlement of the object and reasons it is said that the Act seeks to provide speedy and simple redressal to consumer disputes. Quasi-judiciary machinery has been set up at the District, State and Central levels. These quasi-judicial bodies have to observe principles of natural justice and have been empowered to give relief of a specific nature and to award, whatever appropriate, compensation to consumers. Penalties for non-compliance of orders given by the quasi-judicial bodies have also been provided.1 The object and purpose of enacting the Act is to render the simple, inexpensive and speedy remedy to consumers with complaints against defective goods and deficient services and for that quasi judiciary machinery has been sought to be set up at District, State and National levels.