On 30th July 2019, Lok Sabha passed the Consumer Protection
Bill, 2019. Presumably the said bill will be passed in the Rajya
Sabha and shall receive the assent of the President of India soon
as well. Upon the said Bill becoming effective and subject to the
notification passed by the Government, the present Consumer
Protection Act, 1986 will stand repealed.
On a basic review, the bill does seem to pass the muster and in
many respects seems to elevate the standard in favour of consumers.
Some of the provisions of the Bill which requires specific
attention and understanding are as follows:
A. JURISDICTION OF THE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL
COMMISSIONS
As in the Consumer Protection Act 1986, the Bill also provides
for the adjudication of consumer disputes by statutory commissions
set up at the district levels and state levels and with a
national commission. The pecuniary jurisdiction for such redressal
commissions have been enhanced in comparison with the
