Ineffective Consumers Rights Protection Act
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
The Consumers Rights Protection Act-2009 that was adopted last year raised a great deal of expectation. First of all, the legislation has a long and harried history. It was conceived from greater consumer awareness and media pressures amid mounting agonies faced by all kinds of deceits and exploitation in the wide ranging areas of consumption such as foodstuffs, medicines, etc.
But it took longer than a decade from its first drafting to its final enactment as law. Successive governments dragged their feet in finally submitting it in parliament and getting it passed. The draft was amended many times to provide some justification for delaying the enactment. Interest groups from among the producers and providers of services played a hidden role in blocking its coming into effect for obvious reasons.
But now, even after the introduction of the law at long last, its enforcement remains a largely unfinished businesses. The law for the protection of the rights of consumers has many facets to it. It requires a number of mechanisms for its proper enforcement including special courts and offices where consumers' complaints would be heard and accepted for starting cases. There are also capacities to be created at various levels as well as sorting out coordination among them for the efficacious operation of the law.
Although nearly a year has passed since the legislation was passed in parliament, activities towards setting up the mechanisms to enforce the law effectively, have hardly started.
Nizamuddin Quasem
Agrabad, Chittagong
But it took longer than a decade from its first drafting to its final enactment as law. Successive governments dragged their feet in finally submitting it in parliament and getting it passed. The draft was amended many times to provide some justification for delaying the enactment. Interest groups from among the producers and providers of services played a hidden role in blocking its coming into effect for obvious reasons.
But now, even after the introduction of the law at long last, its enforcement remains a largely unfinished businesses. The law for the protection of the rights of consumers has many facets to it. It requires a number of mechanisms for its proper enforcement including special courts and offices where consumers' complaints would be heard and accepted for starting cases. There are also capacities to be created at various levels as well as sorting out coordination among them for the efficacious operation of the law.
Although nearly a year has passed since the legislation was passed in parliament, activities towards setting up the mechanisms to enforce the law effectively, have hardly started.
Nizamuddin Quasem
Agrabad, Chittagong