Kohima Law College (KLC) conducted a special session on “Consumer Protection Act, 2019” specifically for LL.B 1st semester with assistant professor, Kezhokhoto Savi who is also the President of Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) and the concerned subject teacher as resourced person on February 17.
A press release by KLC media cell stated that the session was conducted as Consumer Protection Act, 1986 which is part of the LL.B 1st semester study course was replaced by Consumer Protection Act, 2019
In his presentation, Kezhokhoto Savi said that Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) recently submitted a representation to Nagaland University to urgently come out with the new syllabus on Consumer Protection Act, 2019 as Consumer Protection Act, 1986 was no more applicable.
He further said that NVCO apprised the state government to immediately implement the Act as Consumer Protection Act, 2019 had become a necessity for law students of LL.B 1st semester as part of their study course.
He added that it was also important for every consumer to be aware of the said Act so that consumers could protect themselves.
He further stated that awareness was still lacking in the state as several consumers find defects in goods and find deficiency in services. In this he advised consumers to “wake up” and realise that it was everyone’s responsibility to know about consumer rights.
Highlighting the latest Act, Savi stated that the proposed Bill provides for establishment of an executive agency to be known as Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to promote, protect and enforce rights of consumers; make intervention when necessary to prevent consumer detriment arising from unfair trade practices and to initiate class action including enforcing, recall, refund and return of product, etc.
Further, he stated that the provision of “mediation” as alternate dispute resolution mechanism was also provided as well as several provisions aimed at simplifying consumer dispute adjudication process of consumer disputes redressal agencies, inter alia, enhancing pecuniary jurisdiction of consumer disputes redressal agencies, etc.
Meanwhile, in order to implement Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the state government must frame rules and regulation and Nagaland University must come out with new syllabus based on the Act.
It may be noted that NVCO would be conducting more awareness campaign on Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The forthcoming “world consumer rights day” which falls on March 15 will be celebrated week-long so as to create awareness among consumers in the state.
