Chapter 18 — Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Exercise Solutions
I. Choose the Correct Answer
Q1. The President of the National Commission is a ________. Answer: a) Serving/Retired Judge of Supreme Court
Q2. The President of the State Commission is a ________. Answer: b) Judge of High Court
Q4. The pecuniary jurisdiction of the State Commission is ________. Answer: c) Rs. 20 Lakhs to Rs. 1 crore
Q5. The pecuniary jurisdiction of the National Commission is ________. Answer: d) Exceeding Rs. 1 crore
Q6. The pecuniary jurisdiction of the District Forum is ________. Answer: a) Below Rs. 20,00,000
Q7. International Organisation of Consumers Unions was established in ________. Answer: b) 1960
Q8. The rights of consumers are ________. Answer: d) All of the above
Q9. The redressal mechanism is available to ________. Answer: d) All of the above
Q10. Consumers can approach the redressal mechanism through ________. Answer: d) All of the above
Additional MCQs
Q1. The number of members in District Forum, State Commission and National Commission are ________, ________, ________ respectively. Answer: b) 3, 3, 5
Q2. The President of the National Commission is ________. Answer: a) Judge or retired Judge of Supreme Court
Q3. The President of the District Forum is ________. Answer: c) District Judge or qualified to be a District Judge
Q4. Find the odd one out: NCDRC, SCDRC, IOCU, District Forum. Answer: c) IOCU — it is a voluntary consumer organisation, while the others are quasi-judicial bodies.
Q5. Which of the following statements is correct? Answer: d) All are correct — the customer is the most important person in business.
Q6. The National Commission is located at ________. Answer: b) New Delhi
Q7. The Department of Consumer Affairs is under the ________. Answer: a) Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India
Q8. The President of the State Commission is ________. Answer: b) Judge or retired Judge of the High Court
Q9. Which is not an objective of the Consumer Protection Act? Answer: d) Earn profit
Q10. Which of the following is excluded from the documents of title to goods? Answer: c) Invoice
II. Match the Following
Match Q1
| List I | List II | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| i. SCDRC | 2. State commission | i — 2 |
| ii. NCDRC | 1. National commission | ii — 1 |
| iii. Redressal mechanism | 4. Quasi judiciary | iii — 4 |
| iv. IOCU | 3. Voluntary Organization | iv — 3 |
Match Q2
| List I | List II | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| i. District Forum | 4. Up to Rs. 20 lakhs | i — 4 |
| ii. State Commission | 3. Exceeds Rs. 20 lakhs | ii — 3 |
| iii. National Commission | 2. Exceeds Rs. 1 crore | iii — 2 |
| iv. Appellate Forum | 1. Supreme Court | iv — 1 |
III. Assertion and Reason
Q1. Assertion (A): The State Commission can exercise original, appellate and revisional jurisdiction. Reason (R): The State Commission hears appeals from the District Forum.
IV. Very Short Answer Questions
Q1. What is meant by Redressal Mechanism? Answer: Redressal mechanism refers to the steps taken by the government to save consumers from exploitation and provide them with a forum to seek remedy for grievances against unfair trade practices.
Q2. Write a note on the National Commission. Answer: The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) is a quasi-judicial body set up in 1988, located at New Delhi, headed by a serving or retired Judge of the Supreme Court.
Q3. Who appoints the members of the State Commission? Answer: The members of the State Commission are appointed by the State Government in consultation with the Central Government.
Q4. Who appoints the members of the District Forum? Answer: The members of the District Forum are appointed by the State Government in each district, with the President being a district judge or someone qualified to be one.
Q5. How is a complaint registered? Answer: A complaint is filed by the complainant against the seller, manufacturer, or dealer of defective goods or deficient services before the appropriate consumer disputes redressal forum.
V. Short Answer Questions
Q1. Why is consumer protection necessary? Answer: Consumer protection is necessary because: 1. Consumers are exploited through duplication, adulteration, and substandard goods. 2. Many consumers are ignorant and illiterate about their rights. 3. Exploitation takes various forms such as overcharging, false advertising, and defective products. 4. Consumers need legal backing to fight against unfair trade practices.
Q2. Write about the members of the National Commission. Answer: The National Commission consists of 5 members — 1 President (a serving or retired Judge of the Supreme Court) and 4 other Members. At least one member must be a woman. The members shall have special knowledge in PALACE — Public Affairs, Administration, Law, Accountancy, Commerce, and Economics.
Q3. Write about the jurisdiction of the State Commission. Answer: The State Commission has jurisdiction over complaints where the value of goods or services and compensation claimed exceeds Rs. 20 lakhs but does not exceed Rs. 1 crore. It also hears appeals against the orders of the District Forum within the state.
Q4. Write about the members of the State Commission. Answer: The State Commission consists of 3 members — 1 President (a serving or retired Judge of the High Court) and 2 other Members. At least one member must be a woman.
Q5. What is VCO? Answer: Voluntary Consumer Organisations (VCOs) are organisations formed by consumers voluntarily to protect and promote consumer rights and interests. They create awareness, file complaints on behalf of consumers, and work towards preventing exploitation.
VI. Long Answer Questions
Q1. Explain the National Commission with a table.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Level | National |
| Number of Members | 5 (1 President + 4 Members) |
| President | Serving/Retired Judge of Supreme Court |
| Appointed by | Central Government |
| Eminence of Members | PALACE (Public Affairs, Administration, Law, Accountancy, Commerce, Economics) |
| Jurisdiction | Above Rs. 1 crore; also hears appeals from State Commission |
| Powers | Entertain appeals, issue revisional orders, call for documents and records |
| Appellate Forum | Supreme Court (within 30 days) |
Q2. Who can make a complaint and against whom? Answer: A complaint can be made by: 1. Consumer — any person who buys goods or avails services. 2. Registered VCO — any voluntary consumer organisation registered under the law. 3. Central Government — the Government of India. 4. State Government or Union Territory — the respective state or UT government. 5. Consumers with a common problem — one or more consumers having the same interest.
A complaint can be filed against a seller, manufacturer, dealer, or service provider who has sold defective goods, provided deficient services, or engaged in unfair trade practices.
Q3. Explain the District Forum with a table.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Level | District |
| Number of Members | 3 (1 President + 2 Members) |
| President | District Judge or qualified to be a District Judge |
| Appointed by | State Government |
| Jurisdiction | Below Rs. 20,00,000 |
| Appellate Forum | State Commission (within 30 days) |
Q4. How is consumer awareness created? Answer: Consumer awareness is created through: 1. Periodicals and publications on consumer rights. 2. Exhibitions and fairs highlighting consumer issues. 3. Public meetings and rallies. 4. Radio and TV programmes on consumer education. 5. Conferences and seminars on consumer protection. 6. Special education programmes for women consumers. 7. Self-help efforts by consumers through association networks. 8. Protests against adulteration and black marketing. 9. Consumer association networks at local, state, and national levels. 10. Government support through Consumer Protection Act enforcement. 11. Educational institutions offering courses on consumer rights.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the pecuniary jurisdiction limits: District Forum (up to Rs. 20 lakhs), State Commission (Rs. 20 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore), and National Commission (above Rs. 1 crore).
- Stating that the NCDRC President is a High Court judge — it must be a Supreme Court judge.
- Forgetting that at least one member must be a woman in each redressal body.
- Omitting PALACE as the qualification areas for National Commission members.
- Mixing up who appoints which body: District Forum and State Commission are appointed by State Government; National Commission by Central Government.
- Confusing IOCU with a quasi-judicial body — it is a voluntary consumer organisation, not a redressal forum.
Exam Checklist
- [ ] Can state the composition and jurisdiction of District Forum, State Commission, and National Commission
- [ ] Can explain the PALACE mnemonic for National Commission member qualifications
- [ ] Know the correct pecuniary limits for each forum
- [ ] Can list who can file a complaint and against whom
- [ ] Can distinguish between the three tiers of consumer redressal machinery
- [ ] Can explain the role of VCOs and IOCU
- [ ] Can describe methods of creating consumer awareness
- [ ] Know the appellate forums and time limits for appeals (30 days)