This part was getting overshadowed by the attitude of consumers who consider themselves to be cheated as destiny and do not want to enter into complicated process. The benefits of which were being taken by service providers with wrong intentions. It can be estimated that the formation of consumer court will bring awareness to the issue of compensation.
Even though every person, from the people to the president, is a consumer, they are not in a position to be sure of the quality of the consumer goods and services they buy. There is no established tradition of fighting a legal battle and holding the service provider responsible if the specified service is not received even after paying the specified price.
Misleading and misleading consumers is considered normal. Due to these reasons, it is clear that the service provider has arbitrariness in buying and selling goods and services. Now the basis is ready to end this kind of trend. After the government established consumer court on 2nd of Chait, now consumers can fight for their rights.
In the first phase, a judicial structure has been formed in favor of consumers in three districts namely Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. Cases have also started to be filed in these courts. It can be expected that the cases filed/to be filed and the judgments of the courts will play a role in reducing injustice to consumers. At the same time, the relationship between the service provider and the consumer will also be strengthened on the basis of accountability.
Article 44 of the Constitution of Nepal states that every consumer has the right to receive quality goods and services. Similarly, it is also mentioned that the person who has been damaged by substandard goods and services has the right to compensation according to the law. Constitutional rights were not being effectively implemented. Even though the case of damage due to substandard goods and services was filed in the district court, the verdict was delayed.
For this reason, the Industry, Commerce and Consumer Interest Relations Committee of the Legislature Parliament instructed the government to arrange a consumer court or a consumer bench in October 2072. In the meantime, the Consumer Protection Act 2075, section 41, mentions the formation of courts. However, after the government got confused, Consumer Interest Protection Forum Nepal filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court.
On February 8, the Supreme Court issued an order in the name of the government to establish consumer courts in all seven provinces. Accordingly, a consumer court has been constituted. This court, like a district court, will conduct preliminary hearing and adjudication of cases against the consumer's rights and interests. Although initially formed in three districts, the government should focus on providing the consumer court with physical structure, financial and technical facilities to the whole country.
The range of consumer goods and services and their consumers is wide. Everyone is a consumer in one way or another. But one neglected community in Nepal is the consumer. It has three parts. First, the quality of consumer goods. Second, the matter of receiving compensation for poor quality service. Thirdly, consumer rights are not discussed in the mainstream.
The Consumer Act itself has set certain criteria for substandard goods. In which the quantity of essential elements or substances required in such goods has been reduced or any other goods have been mixed, they are rotten to the point of harming human health, they are made from diseased or diseased animals or harmful substances, they are produced, transported, accumulated, stored or sold without meeting the specified standards, if the quality of the consumer goods is specified, the quality is not as specified by the manufacturer, etc.
Although not all service providers can be put on the same wave, the experience of purchasing poor quality goods and services has become a common theme. However, despite the purchase of such goods and services, the issue of compensation envisioned by the Constitution and the Act has not been very effective.
This part was being overshadowed by the attitude of consumers who consider themselves to be cheated as fate and do not want to enter into a complicated process. The benefits of which were being taken by service providers with wrong intentions. It can be estimated that the formation of consumer court will bring awareness to the issue of compensation. Which will ultimately lead us to the path of quality service.
The standard of justice given by the consumer court to both the service provider and the customer will continue to be established in the future. However, this topic should not be limited to such a narrow circle. It should be broadened from the perspective of debate, information and awareness. Because, the subject of consumer rights has never been the main topic of discussion with us. No one is held accountable for whether the prices of goods and services are reasonable.
Consumers are getting cheated due to high prices but not quality assured goods and services. Monitoring by government agencies on various occasions is also only ritualistic. It has not brought about a fundamental change. It is not seen that the sensitive issues that are connected to every person are not included in the agenda of government, house, political party meetings or the demands of street demonstrations.
has not even become a topic of movement. All concerned parties should consider this seriously and fulfill their responsibilities and public obligations. Only then will the basis for consumers to get quality goods and services become stronger.
