The Government has introduced a Bill to amend the Consumer Protection Act so as to provide quicker redressal to cases.
The Consumer Affairs Minister, Mr K.V. Thomas, introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha, hoping it would overcome several shortcomings in implementing the earlier Act.
The amended Bill seeks to rationalise the qualifications and procedure of selection of Presidents and Members of the National Commission, State Commission and District Forum.
In the past, the Bill had been amended in 1991, 1993 and 2002 to give it more teeth. The amended Bill also makes a provision for making an electronic complaint to the District Forum.
It also seeks to confer power on the Central Government to call upon the National Commission to furnish information about pending cases.