World Consumer Rights Day: Ensuring Consumer Protection

Today, World Consumer Rights Day is being celebrated in Nepal by conducting many programs. The right of consumers is mentioned in Article 44 of the Constitution of Nepal, 2015, which provides the right to quality goods along with compensation if consumers get harmed. The Consumer Protection Act, 2075, and its regulations ensure that every consumer can enjoy their rights, including the right to choose, the right to information, the right to be protected, the right to take action and sue people involved in wrongful commercial activities, and the right to a hearing with compensation regarding goods that do not meet quality standards.

Despite a clear mention of these rights in the constitution, they are still not implemented in real-life situations. Consumers often face fraud when availing of goods or services in sectors such as healthcare, education, communication, transportation, electricity, drinking water, banking, financial institutions and food supplies. The law mandates that all goods and services in the market must meet mandatory quality standards and prohibits the sale and distribution of unlabeled products, but it has remained mostly on paper.

All seven provinces of Nepal are given the responsibility of managing the goods and services market and empowering consumers. The Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection is tasked with monitoring the implementation of the law and facilitating its enforcement. However, the law has not been effectively implemented. According to consumer rights activist Madhav Timilsina, the failure of regulatory bodies to function effectively has led to difficulties in enforcing consumer rights. He advises consumers to remain vigilant about their rights.

Meanwhile, six years after the Consumer Protection Act was enacted, a Consumer Court is set to be inaugurated today and it will commence its operations from tomorrow. After its operation, affected consumers can approach the court for justice. The Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Supplies, Damodar Bhandari, has claimed that the establishment of the Consumer Court will curb consumer fraud. He further stated that the court’s rulings will set legal precedents, reducing consumer fraud and encouraging ethical practices among businesses.