Roles of National Commission in the Consumer Protection Act
The Consumer Protection Act is planned to protect consumers and give them rights when buying goods and services. National Commission, State Commission, Consumer Forum etc. are regulates and observe consumer rights.
The National Commission consists of a President and at least four other members, one of whom should be from Consumer Forum or woman. They are appointed by the Central Government. A complaint can to be made to the National Commission when the price of the goods or services in subject of matter, along with the reimbursement claimed, exceeds a fixed amount of money, say as 500 dollars as Consumer Protection Act. The appeals against the orders of a State Commission can also be filed before the National Commission. On receiving the complaint, the National Commission shall refer the complaint to the party against whom the complaint is filed. If required, the goods or a sample thereof, shall be sent for testing in a laboratory as Consumer Protection Act. The National Commission shall pass an order after considering the test report from the laboratory and hearing to the party against whom the complaint is filed.
An order passed by the National Commission in a substance of its unique jurisdiction is appealable before the Supreme Court. This means that only those appeals where the value of goods and services in question, along with the compensation claimed exceeded- amount of money, Consumer Protection Act and where the aggrieved party was not satisfied with the order of the National Commission, can be taken to the Supreme Court of that country. Moreover, in a case decided by the District Forum, the appeal can be filed before the State Commission and, thereafter, the order of the State Commission can be challenged before the National Commission and no further.
