India, Dec. 27 -- Consumer education must be passed on through school curriculum and public outreach. Strong reforms and strict enforcement are essential to restore consumer confidence. Consumer rights can be strengthened only through firm policy enforcement and structural reforms. E-commerce platforms must be held jointly liable for misleading advertisements, fake listings and delayed refunds, backed by graded financial penalties. Mandatory disclosures, verified seller ratings and escrow-based payment systems should be enforced. Consumer courts need adequate staffing, full digitisation and strict timelines for dispute resolution. A single-window, app-based grievance mechanism with real-time tracking would simplify access to justice. Consumer education through schools and public outreach is essential to restore trust. Vineet Gandhi, Chandigarh Earlier this month, my father ordered kurtas from an online website that promised quick delivery. Despite repeated follow-ups, the order has not been delivered. Fake websites and online scammers are increasingly exploiting unsuspecting consumers. Prevention is better than cure, and awareness is the first line of defence. Victims should promptly report such frauds to cyber police with screenshots and transaction details. The complaint process must be simplified for common citizens. The government should also deploy AI tools to verify the authenticity of apps and websites. Consumers must shop only through certified platforms. As the saying goes, "new technology is not good or evil in and of itself. It's all about how people choose to use it." Ojas Gupta, Chandigarh Unfair trade practices are increasing with the rise of online marketing. Many consumers remain unaware of their rights and redressal mechanisms. Several districts in Punjab lack judicial members in consumer courts, leading to mounting case backlogs. Staff shortages and inadequate infrastructure have made redressal slow and discouraging. Filling vacancies, strengthening infrastructure and prioritising consumer disputes are essential. Awareness campaigns through print and digital media can encourage citizens to seek justice. Wg Cdr JS Minhas (retd), Mohali The state has a duty to protect consumer interests by enforcing existing food safety laws. Consumers must be cautious of misleading advertisements and substandard products. Weak enforcement, inadequate testing laboratories and procedural lapses allow adulteration to persist. Sample collection should occur at manufacturing units rather than retail outlets. Fully equipped laboratories and trained personnel are urgently required. In every district, consumers should form NGOs to put pressure on the government for establishing more testing scientific labs and whenever they feel misled by manufacturers or shopkeepers for selling sub-standard or adulterated items, move consumer complaints redressal forum for prosecution and claim damages. But who will bell the cat? If ministers and bureaucrats are involved in corruption and the state is controlled or run by the businessmen, who will protect the interest of consumers? Consumers should, hence, report violations and seek redressal through consumer forums that are available online. Without accountability, public health will remain at risk. Col SK Aggarwal (retd), Panchkula As India observes national consumer day amid an online retail boom, stronger consumer protection is urgently required. Misleading advertisements, fake reviews, hidden charges and data misuse must be curbed through stricter regulation to protect consumers. E-commerce platforms should be accountable for third-party sellers. Consumer courts need modernisation, better staff, fixed timelines and simplified procedures. Awareness campaigns, data protection enforcement and support for consumer organisations are equally important as well. A fair digital marketplace depends on balanced regulation and informed consumers. HS Bhalla, Chandigarh AI-based grievance systems are increasingly replacing human interaction, often frustrating consumers. Automated responses fail to address complaints involving defective or undelivered goods. Most companies do not provide direct helpline numbers, email IDs, or contact details of grievance officers. As a result, consumers are forced to repeatedly interact with automated systems that neither fully understand their grievances nor provide meaningful solutions. Over time, this leads to frustration and ultimately discourages consumers from pursuing their rightful complaints. Firms must be mandated to provide clear contact information and ensure human intervention at initial complaint stages. It is, therefore, essential that consumer-driven companies be mandated to display clear and accessible grievance redressal details, including a dedicated complaint helpline number, a functional email ID, and details of a designated grievance redressal officer. Technology should support, not replace, consumer rights. Humane and responsive redressal is essential to restore trust. NK Jhingan, Chandigarh A consumer becomes stronger when systems function smoothly. Delayed refunds and confusing complaint processes erode trust. It is high time that platforms take responsibility of their actions and resolve issues promptly. Clear information on pricing, returns and data use can prevent disputes. Complaints should not feel like long battles and refunds should not require repeated follow-ups. When platforms, sellers & service providers take clear ownership, trust grows naturally. When people feel secure while making everyday-purchases, they participate with confidence. That confidence, more than any regulation, is what truly empowers the consumer. Prabhat Khhurana, Zirakpur With the rapid growth of online shopping, it is of paramount importance that consumer rights are safeguarded.Consumers are entitled to accurate information regarding quantity, expiry dates, warranties and return-pay policies. Sellers must ensure transparency and product quality at all times.Awareness of rights is essential for every consumer. Ultimately, a healthy market recognises that consumers are central to commerce. Col TBS Bedi, Mohali Consumer rights can be protected only through timely grievance redressal. Prolonged procedures discourage consumers. More consumer courts must be established, along with reforms ensuring timely delivery, replacement and quality assurance. Strict penalties for violations and awareness about complaint mechanisms are essential. Setting up online portals for lodging complaints and filing cases that are easily accessible to consumers will be of great help. Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali As India observes National Consumer Day on December 24, the question of safeguarding consumer rights assumes renewed urgency, especially in an era dominated by online retail and digital payments. While laws like the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and the establishment of e-courts have strengthened the framework, enforcement of consumer rights remains uneven. Faster grievance redressal, platform accountability and transparency in pricing and data use are essential. Consumer awareness campaigns, especially for senior citizens, must be strengthened. Regulators should proactively monitor unfair practices. Consumer protection must evolve faster than markets. Sanjay Chopra, Mohali Consumers must be made aware of their rights relating to information, safety, and redressal through print and digital media. District/state/national consumer dispute redressal commissions should be adequately empowered to monitor unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements and false endorsements through celebrities. Such commissions should be legislated and strengthened with strict penal provisions, adequate infrastructure including e-filing of complaints, online grievance redressal, complaint tracking systems for speedy and cost-effective dispute resolution. E-commerce platforms must ensure transparent pricing, timely delivery, refund/return policies to protect consumer interests. Existing platforms such as e-Daakhil and the national consumer helpline should be further strengthened and staff should be regularly trained to handle emerging issues like digital frauds in a time-bound manner for the protection of consumer interests. Parvinder Singh, Mohali Consumers must be empowered through clear product information. Mandatory disclosure of contents, expiry dates, side effects and complaint channels should be implemented for consumers to read easily. Complaints must be resolved within reasonable timelines. Consumer courts should follow statutory deadlines and adopt a consumer-friendly approach. Awareness encourages accountability. Anil Uberoi, Mohali Consumers often remain the weakest stakeholders against powerful corporations. Misleading advertisements, hidden charges and forced subscriptions are common. Enforcement remains weak and penalties insufficient. Stronger laws, punitive damages, platform accountability and liability for false endorsements are needed. While laws exist on paper, enforcement is weak. Make legal remedies simpler,assessable, fast and effective. Ban force subscriptions, hide cancellations, that mislead. All charges must be disclosed upfront - no hidden fees, convenience charges, or surprise add-ons. Encourage consumer associations, the government should ally with the consumer, not become a corporate partner. Awareness helps, but only firm enforcement ensures justice. RS Dhillon, Chandigarh Trade ethics have shifted from 'consumer is king' to 'consumer beware'. Many consumers hesitate to question unfair practices due to fear or inconvenience. Consumer courts exist, but citizens must actively use them. Vigilance and confidence are essential to revive ethical trade. The responsibility to assert rights ultimately lies with consumers. Shedding irresponsible psychology of 'who listens?', they need to 'make erring quarters listen' to their safeguarding point. The ball is in consumers' court. We need to revive the trade ethic 'consumer is the king'. MPS Chadha, Mohali India observes national consumer day on December 24 annually, evaluating the Consumer Protection Act, 2019's effectiveness against misleading ads, unfair practices, service deficiencies, and product liability. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) conducts investigations, imposes penalties, and regulates advertisements for swift 3-5 month resolutions as per the policies. Three-tier courts, national consumer helpline, and INGRAM portal support e-filing, despite occasional delays. Rules on dark patterns, influencers, mediation, and consumer awareness must be strengthened to protect consumers. Sateesh Dadwal, Chandigarh The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 is a comprehensive piece of legislation that aims to protect consumers through various means. The basic rights of a consumer are: the right to be informed, to choose, be heard, seek safety and redressal, and education. A large number of consumers these days are aware of their rights, but this awareness is lacking in parts of rural India. The need of the hour is to educate the villagers about their rights and available remedies through digital platforms, schools, community programs, and self-help groups. As legal advice is often unavailable in rural areas, there is a need to educate consumers about documentation and the legal process. Despite the government taking many steps and enacting laws for consumer protection, these establishments need to be strengthened by providing additional staff and funds for speedy justice, which will help boost consumer confidence. There are still many unscrupulous persons for whom stringent punishment is required. Anil Kumar Gupta, Panchkula The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 coupled with the Right to Information Act, 2005 tactfully deals with the dynamics of the 21st century market settings. With an increase in unfair trade practices along with cybercrimes, the consumer is grappled with the question of market security and safe access to online shopping platforms. The consumers should be made aware of their rights as well as about the consumer dispute redressal commissions at the district, state and national levels as per the provisions of Chapter 4 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, whereby they can seek speedy redressal. Besides, a product liability action can be brought by the consumer against the product manufacturer, product service provider or a product seller, for any harm caused to him because of a defective product or deficient service as per Section 83 of the above said Act. A basic knowledge of these provisions must be a part of the curriculum for students at every level so that they can become vigilant consumers from the very beginning and spread that knowledge to the forthcoming generations. It is the need of the hour that we collectively adhere to the 'Jago Grahak Jago!' campaign in the true sense. Medhavi Behl, Chandigarh The need for better protection of consumer rights emerges from many reasons like primarily protecting them against adulteration, counterfeit products and unsafe goods harming them physically and financially. However, protecting consumer rights currently faces numerous challenges, like low consumer awareness, slow case resolution, and rampant issues of cybersecurity, making consumers more vulnerable to fraud. Measures to better protect consumer rights involve a combination of strong legal frameworks with effective enforcement bodies and accessible dispute resolution mechanisms, coupled with widespread consumer education. Comprehensive laws to cover new areas of e-commerce to ensure products meet safety standards, along with establishing dedicated bodies to investigate violations, impose penalties, and even order recalls of unsafe goods and deficient services on the pattern of the federal trade commission just like in the USA, are needed. In addition to this, making grievance redressal accessible with simple, speedy, and inexpensive ways, along with leveraging technology and encouraging other alternative methods to resolve disputes, is crucial. Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh The administration should frame strict new rules to protect consumers from unlawful practices. Strong action must be taken against fake listings, and licences should be issued only after proper product verification. Salespersons should carry identity cards for easy recognition in the public, and all sellers must be registered at the time of licensing. Refunds for defective or substandard products should be processed promptly using available technology. Strict penalties, including imprisonment in serious cases related to consumers, must be imposed on defaulters at all times. Consumer courts need additional staff, and legal procedures should be well-simplified to save time and costs. Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali...