Supreme Court Grants Six Weeks for States to Respond on Consumer Rights Petition

Supreme Court's Directive on Consumer Information Rights

New Delhi, August 5 - The Supreme Court has granted several states and union territories a six-week period to respond to a petition requesting that consumers be given the right to access information about product distributors and sellers, including details on quality, purity, and certification. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta is hearing the petition, which emphasizes the necessity of a 'right to know' for consumers to make informed decisions and protect themselves from unfair trade practices and unethical exploitation.

During the hearing on Wednesday, petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay informed the bench that responses had only been received from a few states, including Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Assam, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The bench stated, 'Those respondents who have not yet filed their replies are granted six weeks to do so...' The court has scheduled the next hearing for three months later. The petition, filed through lawyer Ashwini Kumar Dubey, also requests that the central and state governments ensure that every distributor, trader, and shopkeeper displays their registration details, such as name, address, phone number, and number of employees, on a clearly visible 'display board' at their entrance.

The petition highlights that if a customer encounters an issue with a product or service, it is essential to have information about the distributor, dealer, and seller to file a complaint and seek resolution through consumer redressal forums. It primarily asserts that the 'right to know' empowers consumers to obtain information, ensuring their safety and enabling them to make informed decisions during transactions.