New Delhi, July 30: Keeping up with the pace of passing legislations, the Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Consumer Protection Bill, 2019. The law, once passed in the Rajya Sabha, will replace the existing Consumer Protection Act, 1986, said Cabinet Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan.

The Lok Sabha took up for discussion the Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 for the creation of a central authority to protect, promote and enforce consumer rights.

History of the Bill Tabled

The Bill which will replace the existing Consumer Protection Act 1986 and was first tabled in the Lok Sabha on August 10, 2015. After discussion, the members referred the Bill to a parliamentary panel.

The panel gave its report in April, 2016. In this report, a total of 37 recommendations were made by the panel, said Rajendra Agrawal, BJP MP from Meerut. The Bill was introduced again in the Lok Sabha on July 8, 2019 after the earlier draft lapsed with the dissolution of the 16 th Lok Sabha.

The Bill was passed today, Tuesday, on July 30, 2019, by the Lok Sabha after discussions and debate amid Opposition sloganeering.

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Consumer Protection Bill, 2019, was moved for passage by the Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan. While addressing the House, Paswan stated that this Bill will replace the outdated Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

Features of the Bill

1. Cabinet Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Paswan said that the Consumer Protection Bill, 2019, will provide for the creation of "Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce the rights of consumers and will also make interventions whenever necessary to prevent the unfair trade practices and initiate class-action including recall, refund and return of products."

2. BJP MP Rajendra Agrawal argued in favour of the legislation saying that the new Bill will speed up the justice system for consumers and address their grievances at a better pace than before.

3. The Consumer Protection Bill, 2019 provides for product liability action on account of harm caused to consumers due to defective action or on account of harm caused to consumers due to defective product or deficiency in services.

4. It also provides for “mediation” as an Alternate Dispute Resolution Mechanism.

5. The Bill seeks to replace the Consumer Protection Act 1986 and address the constantly emerging vulnerabilities of the consumers to the new forms of unfair trade and unethical business practices. However, the Opposition denied supporting the Bill accusing the government of trying to centralise authority and diluting powers of the state. (With Agency Inputs) 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2019 04:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).