The Centre has planned to amend the Consumer Protection Act in the next session of Parliament provided there is consensus among political parties, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan has said.
Mr. Paswan told reporters at a press conference here on Friday that one of the aims of the amendment was to bring about what would be called the Consumer Interest Protection Authority.
The authority would act at the national level to consider even suo motu cases for consumer protection.
Though the district, State, and national level forums would continue to exist, the new legal regime would enable consumers seeking compensation up to Rs.2 lakh to argue their cases without the help of a lawyer, Mr. Paswan said.
The new regime would also have provisions to raise the imprisonment term for hoarding to one year and to make the offence non-bailable, he said.
The Minister also said Kerala government had agreed to implement the Food Security Act from March 31.
The State had made a demand for 14 lakh tonnes of food grains.
Any quantity above this level would have to be paid for at the “economy” rate, he said.
