Section 2 (11) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 defines the term “service” as follows. “Deficiency ” means any fault, imperfection, shortcoming or inadequacy in the quality, nature and manner of performance which is required to be maintained by or under any law for the time being in force or has been undertaken to be performed by a person in pursuance of a contract or otherwise in relation to any service and includes–
(i) any act of negligence or omission or commission by such person which causes loss or injury to the consumer; and
(ii) deliberate withholding of relevant information by such person to the consumer;
Examples:
A doctor’s inappropriate treatment that leads to the death or severe sufferings.
A bus company that sells tickets for an AC bus but the AC doesn’t work.
A financial institution refusing to return original documents of the property after the closure of loan account.
An insurance company repudiates the claim without sufficient grounds.
A domestic appliances company refuses to serve as per the warranty.
Section 2 (42) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 defines the term “service” as follows. “Service” means service of any description which is made available to potential users and includes, but not limited to, the provision of facilities in connection with banking, financing, insurance, transport, processing, supply of electrical or other energy, telecom, boarding or lodging or both, housing construction, entertainment, amusement or the purveying of news or other information, but does not include the rendering of any service free of charge or under a contract of personal service.
The Consumer Park Opinion: “Consumer protection holds equal vital to the manufacturing, sales, and service sectors for economic development.” – Dr V. Ramaraj, District Judge Super Time Scale @ District Consumer Commission. The Consumer Park agrees with his views, which was expressed on 24 December 2024 at National Consumer Day event.
