Judgment

AHMADI, J.

( 1 ) THE Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (Act of 1986) received the assent of the President on 24/12/1986. This legislation was enacted for the protection of the interests of the consumers and for that purpose to provide for the establishment of Consumer Councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumers disputes and matters connected therewith. S. 1 (3) thereof provided that it shall come into force on such date as the Central Government will provide by notification. Since different dates could be appointed by different States and for different provisions the provisions of the Act did not come into force on a single date in the entire country. The provisions contained in Chapters I,ii and IV were brought into force by the Central Government w. e. f. 15/04/1987 and Chapter III from 1/07/1987. The Consumer Protection Rules, 1987, made under S. 30 (1) of the Act were also brought into force w. e. f. 15/04/1987. For the sake of brevity these two pieces of legislations shall hereafter be referred to as the Act and the Rules. respectively.

( 2 ) THE object of the legislation, as the Preamble of the Act proclaims, is for better protection of the interests of