The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs) issued a notification on 30th December, 2021, which amended the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The amendment made changes to the following provisions of the Act:
- Jurisdiction of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCDRF)
- Jurisdiction of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC)
- Jurisdiction of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC)
- Time limit for filing a complaint
- Compensation that can be awarded by the consumer forums
Jurisdiction of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCDRF)
The amendment increased the jurisdiction of the DCDRF from ₹1 crore to ₹5 crores. This means that a consumer can now file a complaint in the DCDRF for goods or services worth up to ₹5 crores.
Jurisdiction of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC)
The amendment increased the jurisdiction of the SCDRC from ₹10 crores to ₹20 crores. This means that a consumer can now file a complaint in the SCDRC for goods or services worth up to ₹20 crores.
Jurisdiction of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC)
The amendment increased the jurisdiction of the NCDRC from ₹10 crores to ₹50 crores. This means that a consumer can now file a complaint in the NCDRC for goods or services worth up to ₹50 crores.
Time limit for filing a complaint
The amendment increased the time limit for filing a complaint from 2 years to 3 years. This means that a consumer can now file a complaint in the consumer forums within 3 years from the date of the cause of action.
Compensation that can be awarded by the consumer forums
The amendment increased the compensation that can be awarded by the consumer forums from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh. This means that the consumer forums can now award a compensation of up to ₹50 lakh to a consumer who has been wronged.
Here are some MCQs on the Consumer Protection Act, 2019: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs) Notification dated 30th December, 2021:
- What is the new jurisdiction of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum (DCDRF)?
- ₹1 crore
- ₹2 crore
- ₹5 crore
- ₹10 crore
- The correct answer is ₹5 crore. The new jurisdiction of the DCDRF is ₹5 crore.
- What is the new jurisdiction of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC)?
- ₹10 crore
- ₹20 crore
- ₹30 crore
- ₹50 crore
- The correct answer is ₹20 crore. The new jurisdiction of the SCDRC is ₹20 crore.
- What is the new jurisdiction of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC)?
- ₹10 crore
- ₹20 crore
- ₹30 crore
- ₹50 crore
- The correct answer is ₹50 crore. The new jurisdiction of the NCDRC is ₹50 crore.
- What is the new time limit for filing a complaint in the consumer forums?
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
- The correct answer is 3 years. The new time limit for filing a complaint in the consumer forums is 3 years.
- What is the new maximum compensation that can be awarded by the consumer forums?
- ₹10 lakh
- ₹20 lakh
- ₹30 lakh
- ₹50 lakh
- The correct answer is ₹50 lakh. The new maximum compensation that can be awarded by the consumer forums is ₹50 lakh.