Chandigarh marked National Consumer Day with a significant event highlighting the shift towards digital grievance redressal and empowering consumers with vital knowledge. The programme was organized by the Consumers' Association, Chandigarh (CAC) in collaboration with the UT department of food & supplies, consumer affairs and legal metrology at the Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission in Sector 19.
Embracing Digital Consumer Justice
Advocate I P Singh, chief patron of the Tricity Consumers Court Bar Association, took center stage to demystify the process of filing consumer complaints online. He provided a clear, step-by-step guide to using the national consumer portal, emphasizing the system's convenience, transparency, and ease of access for the common person.
Adding to the digital theme, State Commission Member Rakesh K Arya revealed that consumer courts across India are increasingly adopting video conferencing. He announced that Chandigarh plans to transition to a fully digital system, enabling e-filing of complaints and virtual hearings to streamline the judicial process.
Local Efficiency and Legacy of Service
In his keynote address, Advocate Ajay Jagga, additional standing counsel for Chandigarh, outlined the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act. While sharing data on pending consumer cases at the national level, he highlighted a positive local trend: consumer courts in Chandigarh are performing efficiently with very low pendency rates, showcasing the effectiveness of the city's redressal mechanism.
N K Jhingan, Secretary of the Consumers' Association, Chandigarh, highlighted the organization's long-standing commitment. He informed the gathering that the CAC has been active since 1979, predating the 1986 Consumer Protection Act. The association has successfully resolved over 15,000 cases via out-of-court settlements and has been recognized and awarded by the Government of India multiple times. He reiterated that the CAC offers free services to help consumers resolve grievances and file cases.
Practical Tips for the Modern Consumer
On the occasion, legal experts offered actionable advice to promote everyday consumer awareness and safety.
For Online Shoppers: Advocate Rajavikrant Sharma urged vigilance on quick-commerce and e-commerce platforms. He advised consumers to weigh delivered grocery items to check quantity and remember that an order confirmation email is a binding contract, making arbitrary cancellations by platforms unacceptable. For digital transactions, he recommended:
- Always mention specific item details in UPI transaction remarks.
- Take time-stamped screenshots of any technical glitches during online complaints.
- Carefully verify website addresses, ensuring they belong to official government domains (.gov.in or .nic.in) to avoid cyber fraud.
For Insurance Buyers: Advocate Anirudh Gupta cautioned against blindly trusting insurance companies. He stressed the critical importance of checking the claim settlement ratio of an insurer and thoroughly reading all policy terms and conditions before purchasing any plan.
The event concluded with a reinforced call for greater consumer awareness, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, ensuring the protections of the law reach every citizen.
