Abstract
The consumer movement in India is as old as trade and commerce. In Kautilya’s Arthashastra, there are references to the concept of consumer protection against exploitation by the trade and industry, short weighment and measures, adulteration and punishment for these offences. Awareness of consumer rights varies in different regions in the country. It is very poor especially among the population in rural and far-flung areas of the country. Compared to the developed countries, the levels of consumer awareness in such a vast country with a large population like India is much lower. There is an urgent and increasing necessity to educate consumers so that they can be protected against the exploitation of the manufacturers and sellers. The aim of the study was to find out the awareness on legal acts of consumer protection among college students. 60 sample was selected to conduct the study by using an interview schedule. Exploratory research was selected for the study. Appropriate statistical methods will be adopted to analyse the data. According to the results of the study, it was concluded that majority of the students were aware of the legal measures that taken by the government for consumer protection and most of the students were not aware of Hire purchase Act, 1972 and the railways claims tribunal act, 1987.
Keywords- Consumers, Legal Acts, Students, Consumer protection, Consumer awareness. .Introduction
Consumer protection consists of laws and organizations designed to ensure the rights of consumers as well as fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional protection for the weak and those unable to take care of themselves. Consumer protection laws are a form of government regulation which aim to protect the rights of consumers. Consumer interests can also be protected by promoting competition in the markets which directly and indirectly serve consumers, consistent with economic efficiency, but this topic is treated in competition law. Consumer protection can also be stated via non-government organizations and individuals as consumer activism.Legislative measures for consumer protection:
In India there are a number of enactments disseminated for the welfare of the consumer. There are several pre and post-independence legislations measures are aimed at controlling production, supply, distribution, quality, quantity, purity and pricing of several goods and services. In fact each of the legislation has some elements, which are directly or indirectly aimed at consumer welfare or protection. Many consumers, even literate ones, are unaware of these legal provisions. The following are some of the important consumer protection laws. They are Indian penal code, Indian contract Act, The sale of goods Act, The agricultural produce Act, Drugs and cosmetics Act, Drugs and magic remedies Act, Prevention of food adulteration Act, Essential commodities Act, Monopolies and Restrictive trade practice Act, Hire purchase Act, Standards of weights and measures Act, Prevention of black marketing and maintenance of supplies of essential commodities Act, Bureau of Indian standards Act, Environment protection Act, The railways claims tribunal Act, Consumer protection Act, Electrical appliances (quality control) order, Cable television network Act, The information technology Act, Electrical wires, cables, appliances and accessories Act and Indian electricity Act (Gurjeet singh, 1960).Methodology
Exploratory research was selected for the study. Sullamussalam Science College students, Areacode will be chosen to draw the sample. Sixty consumers will be chosen to study the awareness of legal measures of consumer protection laws. Interview Schedule will be used for data collection. Appropriate statistical methods will be adopted to analyse the data.Results and Discussion
The data on the selected parameters i.e., legal measures and non-legal measures of consumer protection laws were collected, analysed, presented and discussed.Age
The age of the consumers ranged from 18 to 25 years. Majority of the sample (70%) was in the age group of 18-22 years and the age of nearly one fourth sample (13.33%) ranged between 23-25 years. Majority of the respondents (59%) are P.G students. Most of the students acquired the information about these legal measures through newspapers (33%), journals (10%) and from course syllabus (57%).. Indian penal code, 1860: The majority of the sample (96.6%) was aware of this act whereas (3.3%) of the sample was not aware of.
Indian contract Act, 1872: The majority of the sample (80%) was aware of Indian contract Act, whereas (20%) of the sample was not aware of.
The sale of goods Act, 1930: The majority of the sample (83.3%) was aware of this act whereas (16.6%) of the sample was not aware of.
The Agricultural produce Act, 1937: The majority of the sample (80%) was aware of agricultural produce Act, whereas (20%) of the sample was not aware of this act.
Drugs and cosmetics Act, 1940: The majority of the sample (76.6%) was aware of this Act whereas (23.3%) of the sample was not aware of.
Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 1954: The majority of the sample (53.3%) was aware of Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, whereas (46.6%) of the sample was not aware of.
Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954: The majority of the sample (66.6%) was aware of this act whereas (33.3%) of the sample was not aware of.
Essential commodities Act, 1955: The majority of the sample (63.3%) was aware of Essential commodities Act, whereas (36.6%) of the sample was not aware of.
Monopolies and Restrictive trade practice Act, 1969: The majority of the sample (66.6%) was aware of this act whereas (33.3%) of the sample was not aware of.
Hire purchase Act, 1972: The majority of the sample (93.3%) was not aware of Hire purchase Act, whereas (6.6%) of the sample was aware of.
Standards of weights and measures Act, 1976: The majority of the sample (70%) was aware of this act whereas (30%) of the sample was not aware of.
Prevention of black-marketing and maintenance of supplies of essential commodities Act, 1980: The majority of the sample (66.6%) was not aware of this Act, whereas (33.3%) of the sample was aware of.
Bureau of Indian standards Act, 1986: The majority of the sample (76.6%) was aware of this act whereas (23.3%) of the sample was not aware of.
Environment protection Act, 1986: The majority of the sample (80%) was aware of Environment protection Act, whereas (20%) of the sample was not aware of.
The Railways claims Tribunal Act, 1987: Hundred per cent of the sample was not aware of this act.
Consumer protection Act, 1986: The majority of the sample (53.3%) was aware of consumer protection Act, whereas (46.6%) of the sample was not aware of.
Electrical Appliances (Quality control) order, 1988: The majority of the sample (56.6%) was aware of this act whereas (43.3%) of the sample was not aware of.
The Information Technology Act, 2000: The majority of the sample (63.3%) was aware of this act whereas (36.6%) of the sample was not aware of.
Electrical wires, cables, appliances and accessories Act, 2003: The majority of the sample (63.3%) was aware of Electrical wires, cables, appliances and accessories Act, whereas (36.6%) of the sample was not aware of.
Indian Electricity Act, 2003: The majority of the sample (46.6%) was aware of this act whereas (53.3%) of the sample was not aware of.
.
According to the results of the study, it was conclude that the college students were aware of the legal measures that taken by the government for consumer protection. Hire purchase Act, 1972 and the railways claims tribunal act, 1987 were not aware of to the most of the consumers. Most of the students acquired the information about these legal measures through newspapers, journals and from course syllabus. .
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2. Consumer Behaviour: Text and Cases, by Satish Batra, S. H. H. Kazmi, Publisher: Excel Books; 2nd Revised edition edition (1 June 2008)
3. J. Deepika, D. Ratna Kumari, “A Study on Awareness on Legal Acts of Consumer Protection among Students” International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Volume 3 Issue 11, November 2014
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