NATIONAL CONSUMER
DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION (NCDRC) - GOVERNANCE
News: Supreme Court Seeks
Explanation From 2 NCDRC Members For Issuing Non-Bailable Warrants Ignoring
SC's Interim Protection
What's in the news?
●
Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) has issued notice
to two members of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC),
asking them to provide an explanation for their actions.
National Consumer
Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC):
●
The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
(NCDRC) is a quasi-judicial body
established in India in 1988 under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.
Objective:
●
Its primary mandate is to offer inexpensive, swift,
and concise resolution of consumer disputes.
Headquarters - New Delhi.
Chairman:
●
The Commission is led by either a sitting or retired Judge of the Supreme Court or a sitting or
retired Chief Justice of a High Court.
Jurisdiction:
●
NCDRC holds jurisdiction
over complaints valued at more than two crore and also exercises appellate
and revisional jurisdiction over orders issued by State Commissions or District
fora.
●
The Consumer Protection Act covers both 'goods' and 'services,' where goods refer to products
manufactured or produced and sold to consumers through wholesalers and
retailers, and services encompass various sectors such as transport, telephone,
electricity, housing, banking, insurance, and medical treatment.
Claims by Consumers:
●
Eligibility to file a claim includes any individual who has purchased goods for
consideration and discovers defects in quality, quantity, potency, purity, or
standard, or who has availed services for consideration and encounters
faults, imperfections, shortcomings, or inadequacies in quality, nature, or
manner of performance.
●
However, individuals
who have purchased goods for resale or commercial purposes are not considered
consumers, and complaints cannot be
filed for alleged deficiencies in services rendered free of charge or under
a contract of personal service.
●
Complaints may be filed by consumers, voluntary
consumer associations registered under the Companies
Act 1956, the Central Government or any State Government, or by one or more
consumers where multiple consumers are affected.
Appellate Authority:
●
Any person dissatisfied with an order issued by
NCDRC has the option to appeal against such an order to the Supreme Court within 30 days.