Explain the main features of Consumer Protection Act 1986

Some of the important features of Consumer Protection Act, 1986 are:
1.) It aims at providing overall/holistic protection to the consumers.
2.) The Act is applicable to entire, except for the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
3.) The Act is applicable to all goods and services, unless explicitly stated by the Central Government.
4.) The Act protects consumer against defective and hazardous goods, deficient and inappropriate services and unfair trade practices like hoarding, black marketing, insider trading, monopolies etc.
5.) The Act provides redressal of consumer grievances in a simple and inexpensive way.
6.) The most important aspect of the Act is that it has a set time frame for settlement.
7.) Consumers having common interests and grievances can collectively file complaint, under ‘class action’ provided under the Act.
8.) The Act cover both public and private sector suppliers of goods and services.
9.)The Act provides for formation of Consumer Protection Councils, which promote consumer protection under the consumer rights (Section 6, Consumer Protection Act, 1986). It is important that these councils do not have any legal authority under the Act and merely facilitate addressable of consumer grievances.
10.)The Act has a comprehensive definition of services. The considers services of any description rendered/offered by any individual or organization, including public sector undertakings or government agency. This excludes free services and contracts of personal services. The following services also do not fail under the purview of the Act: (a) Civil amenities provided by municipal authorities. (b) Medical services provided by government hospitals.