As a result of economic reforms and increased foreign investments, “Consumerism” is dominating the Indian market in today’s age. Market has changed from Caveat Emptor (Let the buyer beware) to Caveat Venditor (Let the seller beware) and the choice exercised by the consumer will be influenced by the level of consumer awareness achieved. As big multinationals are doing everything to capture the market there is an active need for having awareness on the consumer protection rights. The reason being some of the companies try to engage in unscrupulous, exploitative and unfair trade practices like defective and unsafe products, adulteration, false and misleading advertising, hoarding, black-marketing etc. By “consumerism” we also mean the process of realising the rights of the consumer as envisaged in the Consumer Protection Act (1986) viz. right to safety, right to be informed, right to choose, right to be heard, right to redress, right to consumer education, right to satisfaction of basic needs and ensuring right standards for the goods and services for which one makes a payment.
Need for consumer protection act
The Indian consumers want quantity not quality, they prefer to compromise rather than complain. It is usual that goods are sold above MRP which is against law and this is predominantly visible at railway stations. Also many goods are sold in the market without much information about their quality, quantity and purity. In case of goods meant for mass consumption like, food, milk products, edible oil etc. the ingredients are not known. Manufacturers or producers seldom follow the safety regulations in the products like, lamps, batteries, footwear, electrical equipments, wires, cement, LPG cylinders, stoves, switches, plugs, sockets etc. leading to many fatal accidents. Adulteration of food is another major problem, few examples of which are given in following table:
| Food Item | Adulterated by |
| Milk | Detergent, Refined oil, Urea etc. |
| Arhar Dal | Yellow Colour |
| Rice | Small stones |
| Mustard Oil | Engine oil, Argemone oil |
| Vegetables, fruits | Artificial Colour |
The big multinational companies make a huge profit from whatever they sell; they try to gain the attention of an average consumer through catchy slogans and advertisements. Sometimes the sellers offers unrealistic schemes on anything ranging from soap to a two-wheeler or a computer, the consumer is deceived by these schemes offered by the manufacturers, who spend crores of rupees on their branding and advertising efforts. The poor consumer, who is caught-up in ‘buy-one, get one schemes’ hardly finds time to apply his mind that it is he who pays everything, even for those so-called free-gifts that are used as marketing tools.
The tragic part of all this is that at the time of purchasing the goods, the consumer is never shown the clauses of warranty, written in the microscopic fonts, with so many “conditions apply” mentioned in the foot-notes of these documents hidden somewhere in ‘owner’s manual’. The consumer gets this owner’s manual only after he makes the payment of the product he intends to purchase. A closer look at such ‘warranties’ makes one to ponder upon the fraud most of the companies commit with a consumer. For instance, a look at the warranty card provided with any electric or electronic goods item, including television sets, DVDs, computers etc reads “In the event of damage on account of high or low voltage, fluctuation in current, lightening etc, the warranty is automatically null and void”. Is it just to deceive the Indian consumer who simply purchases the goods thinking that the same can be repaired or replaced within the warranty period while remaining ignorant of the basic difference between ‘guarantee’ and ‘warranty’.
Category: Articles
the average compensation awarded by a consumer court to a complainant is Rs.5000/- and costs are Rs.2000/-. this amounts to satisfying both complainant and OP, as complainant get a paltry sum and OP is fined by a paltry sum. this small fine does not pinch pocket of OPs. fines should be made atleast Rs.25,000 minimum and costs should be raised to Rs.5000 minimum considering the fact that most corporate giants engage advocates and prolong the cases for a minimum of 3 years by hook or crook. In this context it may be noted that last year consumer court in Chennai (North) awarded a compensation of Rs.50,000/- to two consumers against a detergent co for packing 20 gms less in 1 kg detergent. such policies should be followed. present quantum of compensation and fine was fixed in 1986 when the Act was enacted.
Dear friends,
I want to inform public about your landmark victory at district
consumer court against Dakshin Media Gaming Solution Pvt. Ltd.
Company, the organizers of television game show “HAUZEE” on many TV Channels.
to pay me 11,00,000/- alongwith interest @ 6% p.a and telecom service
provider Bharti Airtel Limited to pay a sum of Rs.2,00,000/- as
punitive damages and also the presenter/hosts of programme namely
Sajid Khan and Javed Jaffrey to pay Rs.1,00,000/- each as punitive
damages.
I won this money in the episode relayed on 13.11.2005, in which I
downloaded Rs10/- ticket on my prepaid airtel connection. I played
the game and won the Jackpot and was declared winner of 11,00,000
prize money. I was promised on the show that I will get this money
and will also be invited on TV to appear on subsequent show.
But later, I never received my money. I kept contacting the related
parties for my prize money for about a year. When all my effort went
when in vain, I filled a case against Dakshin Media Gaming Solution
Pvt. Ltd. Company, its partners, Bharti Airtel Limited and the host
Sajid Khan and Javed Jaffery in local consumer court.
The case went for seven years, and because the game show was run by
so many partners, none of them was ready to take responsibility to pay
me money. As a common man this journey was very difficult and I know
lot more people who are being ripped off and given false hopes by this
channels and game shows and not been paid their money.
I wanted to get my prize money back and show these companies and
presenters that they have credibility towards the consumers from whom
they are making such profits.
During this journey I realized that common man doesn’t even know how
to deal with this problem so they give up and whom to ask. I want to
tell such people not to give up hope and fight back.
even media refuse to publish my news because they said media people do not go agnist media people. this show how corruption enter in electronic media.it is hope less.
regards
kamal
Sir,
I’m amit garg ….from c-250 beta 1 greater noida ….I have paid the payment through cheque for the news papers hhindustan times n hindustan hindi ….I have paid the money through cheque …it’s been more then 2 months I have paid the money ….I had not not got the coupons till date n the news papers even ……booking done by m.d. Riaz …..pthis is dissattisfactory for the big company like yours …..
So please help us out and this is very bad for the reputation of your company ….
My number is 9312665241 ….amit garg c-250 beta 1 ….greater noida …
So kindly take some actions as quicky as u can …
Thank you