Q."Consumer Protection is a social necessity, not merely a legal obligation." Explain with reference to Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.
Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Consumer protection is a social and moral necessity because consumers are widely exploited and unorganised; the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 merely gives legal force to this deeper social responsibility.
The statement explained: The claim that consumer protection is 'a social necessity, not merely a legal obligation' means that protecting consumers is not only a legal duty imposed by law but also a social, moral and business responsibility. Both dimensions are examined below.
Consumer protection as a SOCIAL necessity:
- Widespread exploitation — Consumers face adulteration, defective and unsafe goods, false and misleading advertisements, overcharging, underweight supplies and poor after-sales service.
- Unorganised and ignorant consumers — Consumers are scattered, uninformed about their rights and products, and cannot match the power of large, organised sellers.
- Protection of health, money and welfare — Safeguarding consumers protects public health and ensures fair value for money, promoting social welfare.
- Moral justification / business self-interest — A business exists to satisfy consumers; cheating them destroys trust and goodwill. Ethically and for long-run survival, firms must protect consumer interests ('Consumer is the King').
- Social responsibility — Business uses society's resources and owes society (its consumers) honest, fair and safe dealing.
Consumer protection as a LEGAL obligation — the Consumer Protection Act, 2019: The law reinforces this social need by providing:
- Six consumer rights — right to safety, information, choice, to be heard, to seek redressal and to consumer education.
- Three-tier redressal machinery — District, State and National Commissions to settle complaints cheaply and quickly.
- Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) — to regulate unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements and false claims. …
Unlock everything free for 14 days
- Full step-by-step solutions
- Concept-first explanations
- Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
- PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.