What is the role of the Central Consumer Protection Authority?

What the Law Says

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is created by the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to protect and enforce consumer rights. It has wide-ranging regulatory, investigative, and adjudicatory powers.

The CCPA is a statutory authority constituted by the Central Government under Section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Its primary mandate is to promote, protect, and enforce consumer rights, prevent unfair trade practices, and regulate misleading advertisements.

It can investigate complaints, issue safety notices, recall unsafe goods or services, order refunds, impose penalties up to ₹10 lakh on endorsers or advertisers for misleading ads, and file class-action complaints before consumer commissions.

Under Section 10(2), the CCPA may 'take such measures as are necessary to prevent the supply of goods or provision of services which are hazardous to life and safety of consumers'. It also has power to 'instruct the concerned manufacturer or endorser to discontinue the advertisement within seven days'.

Statutory Text

The Central Government shall, by notification, establish an authority to be known as the Central Consumer Protection Authority...

— Consumer Protection Act, 2019, s. 10 — Establishment of Central Consumer Protection Authority

Statutory Text

The Authority may, where it is satisfied that any goods or services are hazardous to life and safety of consumers, take such measures as are necessary to prevent the supply of such goods or provision of such services.

— Consumer Protection Act, 2019, s. 10(2)(a) — Powers of the Authority

Statutory Text

The Authority may, after giving an opportunity of being heard to the concerned manufacturer or endorser, instruct him to discontinue the advertisement within seven days.

— Consumer Protection Act, 2019, s. 10(2)(b) — Power to direct discontinuance of advertisement

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