The National Consumer Day 2020 was celebrated by the department of Food & Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology, U.T., Chandigarh

Chandigarh.24 December,2020: The National Consumer Day 2020 was celebrated by the department of Food & Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology, U.T., Chandigarh in association with Consumers Association, Chandigarh by organizing a webinar on the new features of Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to aware consumers about their rights,today. On this occasion, Hon’ble Justice Raj Shekhar Attri, President, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh launched E-filling services. This service would give consumers an opportunity to file their grievances online in Chandigarh State Commission and District Commission I & II. With the start of the e-filling system of complaint cases, the complainant can file his complaint online and need not physically visit the Consumer Court. The service of e-filling can be availed on web portal i.e https://edaakhil.nic.in.
In the webinar, domain experts were invited and the panel discussion was held among the participants to ensure better understanding on the subject. An address was given by Hon’ble Justice Raj Shekhar Attri, President, State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission, Chandigarh about new features of Consumer Protection Act, 2019 explaining that for the first time a chapter of mediation has been added in the Act, which will be an alternative disputes redressal mechanism. For the same, Mediation cell has already been notified in U.T Chandigarh and will be started on priority. There is also a provision in the Act against false or misleading advertisements which will be helpful to Consumers saving them from falling victim to unfair trade practices. The definition of “consumer” has been widened which now includes offline and online transactions through electronic means or by teleshopping or direct selling or multilevel marketing. The proposal for set up of Central Consumer Protection Authority has been included and pecuniary jurisdiction of the District and State Commissions has been enhanced to rupees 1 crore for District Commission and rupees 1 to 10 crore for State Commission and above 10 crore for National Commission. It was also discussed that every Consumer should ask for a bill for the purchase made by him as it is the right of every consumer. This practice also helps economy in a healthy way since there would be no tax loss to the country. Moreover, it would be a valid proof for filling a complaint in case if the product is found not satisfactory or defective. It has also been intimated that the Chandigarh State Commission and District Commissions have disposed off 94.18% and 96.50% cases respectively.
In addition to this, and address on the perspective of Consumers on the Act was given by Adv. Madhu P. Singh, Ex- President, District Consumer Redressal Forum, Mohali. Due to the corona pandemic, there has been increase in the volume of online transactions of various kinds. In such a scenario, it is important for the Consumers to be aware of their rights. The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 rightly addresses the areas of E-commerce. The issuance of bill by E-commerce websites and setting up of grievance redressal system is a welcome step in this direction. This Act makes a provision so that the price of the good and services offered on E- commerce platforms cannot be manipulated by the E- commerce entities to gain unreasonable profits.
In the webinar the Additional Director Food & Supplies Sh. Tejdeep Singh Saini, PCS congratulated all the members on the occasion. It was intimated that the Department Legal Metrology wing of the Department is actively enforcing the provisions of Legal Metrology Act and Packaged Commodities Rules. The Package Commodities Rules 2011for packed material requires mandatory declarations such as name and address of the manufacture/ importer, Country of origin, Name of the Commodity, Net quantity, Month and Year of the manufacturing, Retail sale price in the form of Maximum Retail (MRP) Rs…(inclusive of all taxes), consumer care detail etc. on the pack and violations of these attract penalties under the Act. From time to time, the department actively conducts raids on the wholesaler and retailer of essential commodities to weed out the possibility of price manipulations due to hoardings and unfair trade practices. The webinar and launch ceremony of e-filling was also attended by Ms Nitika Pawar, IAS, Director Food & Supplies and Consumer Affairs & Legal Metrology, U.T Chandigarh.
The webinar ended with vote of thanks from Shri R.K Kaplash, Chairman, Consumers Association Chandigarh. It was suggested that the Department of Food & Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology U.T Chandigarh and Consumer Association, Chandigarh may organize such seminar after every three months to strengthen the Consumer awareness movements and publish literature related to Consumer movement to distribute among general public to aware than about their rights beside placing bill boards and hoardings at public places.