Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Rules

8/7/2019 Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Rules

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THE TAMIIL NADUCONSUMERPROTECTIONRULES.1988(G.0. Ms. No. 879, Food and Consumer protection,

dated 30th June 1988)No. S.R.O.A-158/88.- In exercise f thepowersconferredby sub-section2) of Section 0 of the Consumer rotection ct ,1986, CentralAct No. 68 of 1986),eadwith S.O.No. 390(E),publishedn Part I - Section , sub-sectionii ) of the Gazette f

India,Extraordinary, ated 5th April, 1987andS.0.No. 568(E),publishedn Part I - Section , sub-sectionii ) of the Gazette fIndia, Extraordinary, ated he 1Oth une 1987, he GovernorofTamil Nadu herebymakes he following Rules -RULES

1. Short ti t le and commencement.- ( l) TheseRulesmaybe called he TamilNadu Consumer rotectionRules,1988.(2 ) They shallcome nto forceat once.

2. Definitions.- In theseRules, nless,hecontextotherwiserequires(a ) 56Act"means he ConsumerProtectionAct, 1986(CentralAc t No. 68 of t986) ;


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(b) ,,Agent" meansa personduly authorisedby a partyto presentany complaint or appealor reply on itsbeha l f be fo re the S ta te Commiss ion or theDistrict Forum ;(c) ,oAppellant" meansa partywhich makesan appealagainst he orderof the District Forum ;(d) ,,Memorandum" meansmemorandumof appealfiled by the appellant;(e ) "opposite party" meansa person who answerscomplaintor claim :A ,opresident,'means the president of the StateCommission r DistrictForumas he casemay be ;(g) 'oRespondent"means he personwho answersanvmemorandumof appeal(h ) o,section"meansSectionof the Act :(i) ,.State" means he Stateof Tamil Nadu ;(D words and expression sed in the Rules and notdefined'but defined n theAct shallhave hemeaninsrespectively ssignedo them n the Act.

3. salariesand other ailowances nd terms and conditionsof the Presidentand members of the District Forum._ (l )r[ThePresident f theDistrictForumshalr eceive he salaryoftheJudgeof a Districtcourt, if appointed n whore imebasisoran honorariumof Rs. 150 (Rupeesone hundredand fifty only)per day subject o a maximum of 2[Rs.2,100 (Rupels twothousandone hundredonly)l p.. rnonih, if appointedon part_I Substr tutedy c.o. Ms . No.4l4, co-operat ion, oo dan dconsumerprotect ion,dated7t hNovember, 19912. ' Substitutedby G o. Ms. No. 344 co-operation,Food and consumer protection,dated 7thMay, 1993.


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time basis. r[The Presidentof a District Forum shall receivethe transfer ravellingallowancef he oins suchDistrict Forumfrom out-side he District]. 2[Othermembersf sittingon wholetime basis, hall eceivea consolidated onorarium f Rs.2,000(Rupees wo thousandonly) per month and if sitting on part-timebasis,a consolidated onorarium f Rs.750(RupeesSevenhundredand ifty only) per month n addition o Rs. 100(Rupeesone hundredonly) per day for the sitt ing.l 3[Themembersresiding away from the headquarters hall also receive theconveyance llowance f Rs. 150 Rupees nehundredand iftyonly) per month.l(2 ) The President nd he members f the DistrictForumshallbe entitled or such ravelling llou,ancenddaily allowance

on official tour as are admissible o Grade I Offlcer of theGovernmentof Tamil Nadu.(3) The salaryor honorariumas he casemay be andotherallowances hallbe defrayedout of the Consolidated und of theGovernmentof Tamil Nadu.(4) Beforeappointment,he President nd membersof theDistrict Forum shall have o take anundertaking hat he doesnotand will not haveany financialor suchother nterests s s likelvto affectprejudicially his functionsas a member.(5) In addition o provisionof sub-section2) of Section 0the Governmentof Tamil Nadu may remove from office, thePresidentand membersof a District Forum who -

(a) hasbeenadjudgedas an insolvent,orInsertedy C.O. Ms. No. ll2, Co-operation,oodandConsumer rotection,dated,27thMay 1996.Substitutedy No. SRO.A-178190,ated 9thNovernber990.Addedby G.O.Ms. No. 204,Co-operation,oodand Consumer rotection,dated30thAugust ,1994.

zl


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(b ) hasbeenconvictedof an offencewhich in theopinion of the Governmentof Tamil Naduinvolvesmoral turpitude,or(c ) hasbecome hysicallyor mentally ncapable factingas he President r member,or@ hasacquiredinancialor other nterestsikely toaffectprejudicially is unctions s hepresidentor a membet,or(e) hassoabused ispositionas o render iscontinu-ance n officepreludicialo thepublic nrerest

Provided hat the President r membershallnotbe emovedrom hisofliceon heground pecifiedin clausesd) and e)of thesub-rule5) except nan nquiryheldby theGoygrnment f TanirlNaduin accordancewith ru.Ffiro..dure as it may'specify n thisbehalfand inds he President r amember o beguilty on suchground.

'[(5-A) TheGovernment f TamilNadumay,afrerer r ng areasonable pportunityof being heard, emovefront ottlce. amember f a DistrictForumwho hasnotattendedwo consecutivesittingsof the DistrictForumwithoutsufficient ause:l'[(5-B) The President f the DistrictForumshallbe liable

for transfer rom oneDistrict to anotherDistrict n caseof anvrequest y him or on AdministrativeGrounds.](6) The ermsandconditions f theservice f thePresidentand the membersof the District Forum shall not be r.aried otheir disadvantaseurine heir tenureof office.

I Inserted y C.O. Ms. No. l2 l Co-operat ion, ood and ConsumerProtect ion ared . l thJune 1996.2 Subst i tutedy G.O. Ms. No. 152,Co-operat ion,oo dan dConsumer rotect iondared lt hAugust, 1998.


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(7) where any vacancyoccurs n the ofiice ofthe presidentof the District Forum, the senior-most in orderof appointment)memberof District Forum,hordingoffice for the ime being,shalldischarge he functionsof the presidentuntir a personapiointedto fill such vacancyassumeshe office of the presidentof theDistrict Forum.(8) when the presidentof the District Forum is unable odischargehe unctions wing o absence,lrness r anyothercause,thesenior-mostin orderof theappointment) ember f theDistrictForum shalldischargehe functiins of thepresidentuntir thedayon which the Presidentesumeshe charge f his functions.(9) The Presidentor any memberceasing o hold office assuchshallnot hold any appointmentn or be connectedwith the

management r administration f anorganisation hich hasbeen hesubjectof anyproceeding nder heActduring his tenure or aperiodof 5 years rom thedateon which heceaseso hold suchoffice.(10) In caseof difference f opinionamong he membersof the District Forum, he opinionoi th. majorit! shalrprevailand the opinionsor ordersof the Forum shall be expressedntermsof the view of the majority.(11) (i ) The presidentand he members halrhordofficefor_a erm of five yearsor upto the ageof 65 yearswhichever searlierandshallno t be eligible or re_appointment;(ii) Notwithstandinganything contained n sub_rule (i) the presidentor the membermay --' (a) by writing under his hand and addressedto the Governmentof Tamil Nadu resignhis office at any time and on suchresignation eingaccepted, is office shallbecome acant.

(b) be removed rom his office in accordancewith sub-rule 5) of Rule 3.


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4' Place of sitting and other matters relating to DistrictForum'- (l ) The office of District Forum shall be locatedartheheadquarters f theDistrict.where StateGovernment ecidesto establish singleDistrictForumhavingurisdictionovermorethanonedistrict, t shailNotify the placeand urisdictionof theDistrictForum so established.(2 ) The workingdaysand he officehoursof the Disr.ctForumshall be the sameas hat of the Governmentorramit xaau(3) The official sealof the Districtfo l lows:- Forum shall be as

sear.- Theseal ha'have wo concentric rcsbea'nsthe nscriprions,amelyDISTRICT ONSUMERtsoutiiREDRESSALF.RUM" andnameof the District at the Centre.(4 ) Sittingof the DistrictForum,as andwhennecessan.shallbe convened y the president.(5 ) No act or proceedings f the Distr^.,iForum shat beinvalidby reason nryof theexistence f anyvacancy mong tsPresident r members r any defect n its constitution.(6 ) StateGovernment hallappointsuchstaff,as ma1.benecessaryo assist he DistrictForum n its day-to-day ,ork andto perform such other functions as are provided und., the nctand theseRuresor assigned o it by the president.The sararypayable o suchstaff shailbe defrayedout of the consoridatedFund of the StateGovemment.(7 ) Where he opposite arty admits he allegationmadeby thecomplainant,heDistrictForumshalldecide liecomprainton the basis of the merit of the caseand .documents ..r.n,before t.(8 ) If during he proceedingsonducted nderSection 3,theDistrict Forum fixes a date or hearingof the parties, t shail


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be obligatoryon the complaintandopposite arfyor its authorisedagent o appearbefore he District Forumon suchdateof hearingor any other date to which hearing could be adjourned.Wherethe complainantor his authorised gent ails to appearbefbre heDistrict Forum on such day, the District Forum may in itsdiscretion itherdismiss he complaint or defaultor decide t onmerit. Where the oppositeparty or its authorisedagent fails toappearon the day of hearing he District Forum may decide hecomplaint ex-parte.

(9 )Whileproceedingndersub-rule8) heDistrictForummay,on such ermsas t may hink fi t andat any stage,adjourn hehearingof the complaintbut not more han oneadjournment hallordinarily begivenand he complaintshouldbe decidedwithin 90days rom the dateof notice eceivedby the oppositeparty wherecomplaint does not require analysisor testing of the goodsandwithin 150days f it requires nalysis r testingof the goods.

(10) Ordersof theDistrict Forumshallbe signedand datedby the membersof the District Forum constituting he Benchand shall be communicated o the parties ree of charges.

5. Procedure o be followed or making complaintsbeforeth 'e Distr ic t Forum / State Commiss ion.- A compla in tcontaining the following particulars,shall be presentedby thecomplainant n personor by his authorisedagent o the DistrictForum StateCommission, r be sentby registered ostaddressedto the District Forum StateCommission-

(a) the name,description ndaddress f the complainant(b ) the name,description nd address f the oppositeparty or parties,as the casemay be, so far as they

can be ascertained(c) the facts relating to complaint andwhen and where

it arose


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@ document n supportof the allegations ontainednthe complaint ;(e ) the relief which complainant laims.6. Procedure to be adopted by the District Forum lbranalysisand testing of the goods.- under crause c) of sub-section l) of Section 3 if considered ecessary tre oistrictForummaydirect hecomplainanto provide wo separateampresof thegoodspacked n cleandry boitlesorjars or othersurrablecontainerswhich shall be sufficientry ight to prevent eakage,evaporation, r in the caseof dry rrbriunc" entrance f moisture.with a paperslip wrappedand pasted n the container n *.hichthe signature r thumb mpression f ihe person, raderor manu-facturer, rom whom the goodsare purchased hall be affrxed:Provided hat in case he person,or traderor manufacrurerfrom whom thegoodsu.. pur.hured, efuseso affix his sienarureor thumb-impression,the signatureor thumU_l_p..rrio'nof uwitnessshallbe taken n the samemanner.

(2) on receiving he sampres f suchgoods, he Drst.ctForuni shall fix lableson the containers arrying he folrou nginformation:-*(i) Nameandaddress f theappropriateaborarory

to whom the samplewill be sent for analvsisand est(ii) Nameand address f the District Forum :(iii) CaseNumber;(iv) Natureof articles ent or analysis nd esr(y) Sealof the DistrictForum.

(3) The container f sample hallbe completely .rappedin fairly strong hick paper, he endsof the pup.. shali ue neatry


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folded in and affixed by meansof gum or adhesive.The papercover shall be furthersecured y meansof strong wine or threadboth aboveand across he containerand hetwine of threadshallthen be fastenedon the papercover by meansof sealingwax onwhich thereshallbe at least our distinct and clear mpressions fthe seal of which one shall be at the top of thepacket,oneat thebottom of thepacketand he other wo on the body of thepacket.Theknotsof the wineor thread hallbecovered y means f sealingwax bearing he mpressions f the sealof the District Forum.(4 ) One of the sealed ontainerswill be retainedby theDistrict Forum for future referenceand anotherwill be sent tothe appropriateaboratory y the District Forum or sending eportwithin 45 daysor within such extended ime as may be grantedby the District Forum, after specifying he natureof the defect

allegedanddateof submission f the report.(5 ) The quantityof sample, n caseof food samples, oranalysis hallbe asspecified nderRule 22 of the Prevention fFoodAdulterationRules,1955.(6 ) A specimen mpression f the sealused o seal hecontainerof the samplepacketwill be sent o the appropriatelaboratoryseparately y the District Forum.(7) The amount of fees for carrying out the analysisofsamplesshall be decided n consultationwith the concerned

appropriateaboratory.7. Salary and other allowances nd terms and conditionsof the President and members of the State Commission.-(1 ) I[The President f the StateCommissionshall receive hesalary,allowancesand other perquisitesas are applicable o a

I Substituted y C.O. Ms. No. 408. Co-operation, ood and ConsumerProtection, ated 2ndSep tember ,1992 .


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:::il'[[l il:li::l ]lTo":i':9-* hore-timeu,i,1.up r ayo,r,,lilil;ir"L}:,:n,*rrHHJl:: t *ffi1ffi":r;jl,'"," *;;i;_i*:basis,r,uiil...r\eonry) ermonthnorariumf Rs'3'0006up.." irr.i.' ,rrorrunon ,,o.u,rm'i::,ldi:#:,":..ffil:H,u lru:jJ,,$jr::'J:'j'"r 'irr'i ...iers sharrrsoece,rrhepermonth.] uunte f Rs ' 1'000 Rupeesone iorrunoonr"t(2) Thepresidentand hemembersf theStateCommi_sionshallbe eligible o, ,uJ ,.u".,r,n* uffo*un.. Jn 0u,,,fi i,T:i,ffXT:IHf:;;

r,,ur.o ., . oli, or(3 ) The sarary,honorarium,other atowances sha, bei;lXril":Jt or rhe onsolidat.J*o or heGor rnmenrr(4 ) The pres iden t and the members o i rhetateCommissionshall hold "m.. ,",:il:,,:';::$n#il*;J.:i#l;fi ;n :

provided that presidentandmembersmay :_-(a ) by writing underhis handandaddressedto rheStateGovernmentresignhis office r"rl 11",.(b) be removedfrom his office n accordanceu.rrhprovisionsof sub_rule5) .No . 408. Co-operat ionlood an d Consumer rotecr ion.ca:ec nd2 Subsrirutedfo r th e words..70years,,byNo . S.R.O.A_7g/90dated30th Nla_v 99 0

Added by C.O. MsSeptember,I992.


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(5) The Governmentof Tamil Nadu may remove fromoffice President r memberof the StateCommissionwho, -(a) hasbeenadjudged s an insolvent or(b) hasbeenconvictedof an offence which in theopinion of the Governmentof Tamil Naduinvolvesmoral turpitude ; or(c ) hasbecome hysicallyor mentally ncapable facting as Presidentor a member or(d) hasacquiredsuch inancial or other interestasis likely to affectprejudiciallyhis functionsasPresidentor a member or(e) has so abusedhis position as to renderhiscontinuance n office prejudicial to publicinterest

Provided that the Presidentor a member shall not beremoved rom his office on thegroundspecified n clausesd) and(e)andsub-rule 5) excepton an nquiry heldby the Gov0rnmentof TamilNadu n accordance ith suchprocedure s t may specifl'in this behalf andfinds the President r a member o be euiltv onsuchground.'[(5-A) The Governmentof Tamil Nadu may, aftergivingreasonable pportunityof being heard, emove from office amemberof the State Commissionwho has not attended woconsecutive ittingsof the StateCommissionwithout sufficientcauses.](6) Beforeappointment, resident ndmembers f theStateCommission hall have o take an undertakine hat he doesnot

I Insertedby G.O. Ms. No. l2l, Co-opcrationFood and Consumer Protection,dated 24thJune 1996 .


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andwill no t haveanysuch inancialor other nterests srs rikervto affectprejudiciary his functionsas presidento, u -.ri;;. "'(7) Thetermsandconditionsof theserviceof thepresidentand he members f the State ommissionsharrot be ra'ed totheir disadvantage uring their tenureof office.(8 ) Every vacancy aused y resignation nd remor.al fthePresident r anyothermembe. f theState ommissionundersub-rule 4) or otherwise har be filredby freshappointment.(9) where any such vacancyoccurs n the officc. f thePresident f the statecommission, he seniornrosrmenrber inorder of appointment) olding office for the time beins. shalldischargehe functions f the resident "ri,, . ;;r";;;",;r:;to fi l l suchvacancy ssumeshe officeof the presidentot-theStateCommission.

(10)when thepresidentof theState omnrissions .:iirabreto dischargehe unctions wing o absence,rnessor an,,othercause,he seniormostmember in orderof app"i;,;*;;', oi thestatecommissionshalrdischargehe functionsof the Dresrdentuntil the day on which the presidentresumeshe charseo: hisfunctions.(l l) Thepresident,or anymember easingo hrrld rill"_r.as suchshallno t hold any appointmentn or be connecred,,,ri hthemanagementr administiaiion f an organisation hichha,,been hesubjectof anyproceeding nder heAct, duringhis renurefo r a periodof five years rom the dateon which he ceasesohold suchoffice.

(r2) rn case f a differencen opinionamong he nrenrbersof the StateCommission,heopinionof rn . majorit]. nuttpre,u, tand he opinionor ordersof thecommission hutt"b. .rpr.,r.ain termsof the views of the maioritv.


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8. Placesof sitting and other matters relating to StateCommission.- (1) The officeof the StateCommission hallbelocatedat Chennai.

(2) The working days and the office hours of the StateCommission shall be the same as that of the Government ofTamil Nadu.

(3) The emblemandofficial sealof the StateGovernmentshallbe as ollows -

Emblem.- The StateCommiss ionas Head of theDepartmentshall use the StateEmblem in their official letterheads,namely "s ing le co lour b lack Emblem in fu l l w i thdesignation ithin two concentric rcsof two-thirdsof a circle."

Seal.- The sealshall have two concentricarcsof two-th i rds of a c i rc le wi th the inscr ip t ions, amely, "STATECONSUME,RDISPUTESREDRESSALCOMMISSION" ANdrvith the StateEmblem at the centre.

(4) Sittingof the StateCommission,as andwhennecessaryshall be convenedby the President.

(5) No actor proceedings f the StateCommission hallbe invalid by reasons nly of theexistence f any vacancyamongits Presidentor members I anydefect n its constitution hereof.(6) The Governmentof Tamil Nadu shall appoint suchstaff, a; may be necessaryo assist he StateCommission n itswork aird to perform suchother functionsasareprovidedunderthe Act and theseRules or assigned o it by the President.Thesalary payable to such staff shall be defrayed out of theConsolidatetiFund of the Governmentof Tamil Nadu.

(7) Where the oppositeparty adrnits the allegation madeby the complainant, he State commission shall decide the


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complainton the basisof the merit of the caseand documentspresented efore t.(8 ) Ifduring theproceedingsonducted nderSection13,

StateCommission ixes a date or hearingof the parties, t shallbe obligatory on the complainantand oppositeparty or hisauthorisedagent o appearbefore he StateCommissionon suchdate of hearingor any other date to which hearingcould beadjourned.Where the complainantor his authorisedagent ailsto appearbefore the State Commissionon such day, the StateCommissionmay in its discretioneitherdismiss he complaintfor defaultor decide t on merits.Where he opposite artvor it sauthorisedagent ails to appearon the day of hearing, he StateCommissionmay decide he complaintex-parte.(9) While proceedings ndersub-rule 8) theStateConimi-ssionmay, on such erms as t may think fi t andat an-u"tage'oftheproceedings djourn he hearingof the complaintbut not morethanoneadjournmenthallordinarilybe givenand hecomplaintshallbe decidedwithin 90 days rom thedateof notice eceir-edby theopposite arfywhere he complaint oesnot requtreanall'sisor testing f thegoods ndwithin 150days f it requires nalvsisor testingof the goods.

(10)Orders f the StateCommissionhallbe signed nddatedby the members f the StateCommission onstitutingheBenchand shallbe communicatedo theparties ree of charee'

9. Procedure or hearingappeal.- (1) Memorandunt hallbe presentedby the appellantor his authorisedagent to theStateCommissionn pers'on r sentby registered os taddressedto the Commission.

(2) Every memorandum iled undersub-rule( I ) shall bein legible handwritingpreferably yped and shall set-forth


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consisery nderdistinctheads,he groundsof appearwithout anyargumentor narrativeand such ground sha' be numberedconsecutively.(3) Each memorandum hall be accompanied y thecertified opyof theorderof theDistrictForumappealed gainstandsuchof thedocuments smaybe required o supportgroundsof objectionmentionedn the mlmorandum.(4) When he appeal s presented fter he expiry of periodof li'ritation as specified n the Act, Memorandumsha, beaccompaniedy an application upported y an affidavitsettingforth the fact on which appettani eries o satisfy he Statecommission ha t he hassufficientcause or no t preferring heappealwithin theperiodof limitation,

(5) The appetant sha ' submi t four copies of thememorandum o the StateCommission or official iurpor.s.(6) On thedateofhearingor anyotherday o whichhearingmay be adjourned,t shallbe obrigaiory or the partiesor theirauthorisedagents o appearbefore the Statecommission. Ifappellant r his authorised gent airs o appear n suchdate, heState ommissionmay, n its discretion, itherdismisshe appearor decide t on themeritof thecase. f respondent r hisauthorisedagent airs o appearon suchdate, he Statecommissionshallproceedex-parteand shail decide he appearex-parteon meritsofthe case.(7 ) The appellant hallnot, exceptby leaveof the StateCommission,urge or be heard n supportof any ground ofobjectionsnot setforth in the memorandumbut the stateCommiision, in deciding he upp.ui, ,t ul l no t confine to thegroundsof objection setforth rn itre memorandumor taken byleaveof the StateCommissionunder his Rule :


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Provided that the cornrnissionsha, not rest its decision0n any othergroundsother hanthosespecifiedunress he partywho may be affbcted thereby,has been given at reasroneopportunityof being heardby the Statecommission.(8) StateCommissionmay, onsuch ermsas t may thinkfi t and at any stage,a_djournhe hearingof appeal,but not morethan one adjournmell :h"]l .ordinarilybe given and the appealshouldbe decidedwithin g0 daysnon., r,. first dateof hearing.(9 ) Order of the StateCommissionon appealshall besignedand datedby the membersof the Statecommissionconstitutinghe Benchandshailbe communicatedto the partiesfreeof charge.

Documents

Tamil Nadu Consumer Protection Rules