Kathmandu, Aug. 25 -- The Department of Commerce, Supply and Consumer Protection Management collected Rs4.3 million in cash penalty from outlets involved in market misconduct in the last fiscal year. Despite this, guilty firms continue to engage in market misconduct as they do not face legal repercussions. Consumer rights activists also bemoaned the lack of a mechanism for the government to reinvest the collected amount and provide better consumer protection.

The Consumer Protection Act that was introduced in September prohibits traders from cheating consumers by engaging in adulteration, giving short measure or over-charging. As per the law, the government authority can impose a cash penalty of Rs5,000-300,000 on the spot.

If traders d...