Implement Consumer Protection Act, 2019 — NVCO to Chief Minister

Dimapur, July 17 (EMN): The Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) appealed to the Nagaland chief minister to immediately implement the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to protect the interests of consumers.

NVCO press and media cell informed that NVCO in a representation submitted to the chief minister at the latter’s official residence on July 15, urged for immediate implementation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and also to provide proper office, court room or building to run the Nagaland State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

NVCO stated that the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, was enacted for establishment of consumer protection councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumer disputes, etc.

Accordingly, the state government had notified the rules in implementing the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

‘However, the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was repealed and re-enacted and now called the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir,’ it stated.

NVCO also stated that president of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, New Delhi, is likely to officially visit the state, particularly the state capital Kohima, in August 2022 to see whether the State Commission as well as the district level commissions and forums are functioning as per the prevailing Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

“And it would be very embarrassing for the state government if the fact comes to light that a very dignified institute called Nagaland State Consumer Disputes Commission (NSCDC) with a retired judge of Gauhati High Court as president and members are functioning in a government guest house without a single room of office”, it stated.

It alleged that since its inception, the state government has been neglecting NSCDC and in the past, the government even failed to pay remuneration to the state commission’s president, leading to an “embarrassing situation to pay as per the direction of High Court,” it stated.

NVCO reminded that the status of the state commission president is equivalent to that of a sitting judge of a High Court and therefore “denying entitled facilities” amounts to failing to honour the dignity of the State Commission in the state. 

It further stated that consumer markets for goods and services have undergone drastic transformation since the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

“The modern market place contains a plethora of products and services. The emergence of global supply chains, rise in international trade and the rapid development of e-commerce have led to new delivery systems for goods and services and have provided new options and opportunities for consumers,” it pointed out.

According to NVCO, these factors have rendered the consumer vulnerable to new forms of unfair trade and unethical business practices.

“Misleading advertisement, tele-marketing, multi-level marketing, direct selling and e-commerce pose new challenges to consumer protection and will require appropriate and swift executive interventions to prevent consumer detriment,” it added.

NVCO argued that it has become inevitable to “repeal and re-enact the Act” to address the “myriad and constantly emerging, vulnerabilities of the consumers.”