(THE GIST OF PIB) National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission

(August-2023)

Recently, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) dismissed an appeal filed by Cloudtail India Pvt. Ltd. challenging the Order passed by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) with regard to the violation of the rights of consumers by the company.

It is a quasi-judicial commission in India, which was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986.
The Commission is headed by a sitting or a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India or a sitting or retired Chief Justice of the High Court.
The Act mandates the establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the Centre as well as in each State and District to promote consumer awareness.
The Central Council is headed by the Minister in charge of the Department of Consumer Affairs in the Central Government, and the State Councils by the Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs in the State Governments.
It also provides for a 3-tier structure of the National Commission, the State Commissions and the District Commissions for speedy resolution of consumer disputes.
Its head office is in New Delhi.

It is a regulatory body established in 2020 based on the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs.

It will have a Chief Commissioner as head and only two other commissioners as members, one of whom will deal with matters relating to goods while the other will look into cases relating to services.
The CCPA will have an Investigation Wing that will be headed by a Director General.
District Collectors, too, will have the power to investigate complaints of violations of consumer rights, unfair trade practices, and false or misleading advertisements.