The Haryana farmers recently won compensation of almost ₹5 lakh from the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), after they were sold defective guar seeds which led to a drastic 70% crop failure. This victory was achieved at the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), an institution established to provide inexpensive, speedy and summary redressal of consumer disputes.
Understanding the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
The NCDRC is a quasi-judicial commission in India that was set up in 1988 under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. It serves as an open platform for the consumers to file their grievances and disputes against service providers. The commission is headed by a sitting or retired judge of the Supreme Court of India, ensuring the highest level of judicial overview.
Provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986
According to Section 21 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, the NCDRC has the jurisdiction to entertain complaints valued more than one crore. Moreover, it also has appellate and revisional jurisdiction over orders from State Commissions or District fora.
Section 23 of the same act allows any person aggrieved by an order of the NCDRC to prefer an appeal against such order to the Supreme Court of India, ensuring a balance of power and further recourse if required. However, this appeal must be made within 30 days of the order.
It’s important to note that the provisions of this Act cover both ‘goods’ and ‘services’, thus providing a wide umbrella of protection for consumers.
| Section | Provision |
|---|---|
| 21 | NCDRC jurisdiction over complaints valued over one crore, appellate and revisional jurisdiction from State Commissions or District fora orders |
| 23 | Aggrieved person can appeal against NCDRC order to the Supreme Court of India within 30 days |
Appellate Authority in Consumer Protection
If a consumer is displeased by the decision of a District Forum, he has the right to appeal to the State Commission. Should he still feel aggrieved with the decision of the State Commission, the consumer can escalate his complaint to the National Commission. This clear line of appeal and hierarchy ensures checks and balances and upholds the rights of the consumers at every level.
