COPRA Full Form

COPRA full form is the Consumer Protection Act. The Consumer Protection Act is an important piece of legislation that has played a part in protecting the rights of consumers in India. It has also helped in creating consumer understanding of their rights and duties. To acquire more information about COPRA, read this article.

What is the Full Form of COPRA?

The full form of COPRA is the Consumer Protection Act. The Consumer Protection Act is an article of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of consumers. It establishes consumer protection organizations and allows customers to register complaints against traders for their unfair commercial practices or defects in goods or services.

The definition of a consumer according to The Consumer Protection Act  is "any individual who buys any goods for a consideration which has been paid or promised, or partly paid and partly promised, or under any system of deferred payment, and includes any user of such goods other than the person who purchases such goods for reselling or for any sort of commercial purposes."

History of COPRA 

The East India Company introduced a variety of laws in the 18th century to protect customers against adulteration and fraud.The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 was India's first comprehensive consumer protection law. It was passed by India's Parliament on December 24, 1986, and came into effect on April 15, 1987. The Act was designed to safeguard consumers' interests against unfair commercial practices and flaws in goods and services.

Since its introduction, the Consumer Protection Act has been revised multiple times.  The modifications in the Act have broadened the reach to include new sorts of consumer complaints. It has also enhanced the penalty for violations of the Act.

Important Milestones  of COPRA

• To stop or limit unfair commercial practices, the Monopolies and Restrictive Commercial Practices Act was passed in 1969.
• The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act was passed in 1975 in order to safeguard customers from food adulteration.
• The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 was passed to safeguard the interests of consumers against unfair commercial practices and flaws in goods and services.
• The Consumer Protection Act of 1986 was revised in 2002 to broaden its reach and strengthen the penalty for violations.
• The Consumer Protection Bill, 2019, is tabled in Parliament in 2019. The Bill is now being debated and is anticipated to be turned into a law soon.

Rights Provided to Consumers under COPRA 

Right to be informed : Consumers have the right to be informed about the quantity, quality, pricing, and other pertinent facts regarding the goods or services they are purchasing. This includes the right to be provided knowledge about the sale's terms and conditions, such as the warranty duration and return policy.

Right to choose: Consumers have the right to select the items or services they wish to purchase. This includes the freedom to compare costs and quality, as well as liberty from compulsion or harassment.

Right to be heard: Consumers have the right to be heard and reimbursed if they have faced any loss or harm as a result of faults in the products or services they have purchased.

Right to redressal: Consumers have the right to seek redressal of their concerns through consumer protection agencies. Customer protection authorities can force a merchant to refund the price of the products or services, replace the goods or services, or compensate the customers.

The Consumer Protection Act (COPRA full form) is very effective for the protection of customers' rights.

Provisions of COPRA 

• Section 2(1)(d) defines a consumer as "any person who buys any goods for a consideration which has been paid or promised, or partly paid and partly promised, or under any system of deferred payment, and includes any user of such goods other than the person who buys such goods for resale or for any commercial purpose."
• A trader is defined in Section 2(1)(f) as "any person who, in the course of his business, sells or distributes any goods to consumers."

• Section 3 forbids dealers from engaging in unfair commercial practices. Among these practices are:

              - False or deceptive advertising

              - Selling items that are not of the quality or quantity promised

              - Charging extra fees

              - Refusing to issue refunds or replacements

              - Harassment or intimidation of customers

•   Section 12 creates a three-tiered consumer protection mechanism for resolving customer complaints.

              Consumer Protection Councils are established at the district, state, and national levels.

              Consumer Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs) at the district and state levels.

              The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) is present at the national 

• Section 14 encourages customers to submit complaints against dealers for unfair commercial practices or defects in products or services.

• Section 15 calls for the establishment of a consumer ombudsman to assist customers in resolving issues with merchants.

• Section 21 mandates the formation of consumer tribunals to resolve consumer complaints.

Written By: Mia Singh