Participants and others during the Consumer Awareness Campaign held at Town Hall, Tuensang on June 5. (Morung photo)
Morung Express News
Tuensang | June 5
More than 150 people gathered at Town Hall, Tuensang to join the Consumer Awareness Campaign on the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, hosted by Department of Legal Metrology & Consumer Protection (LMCP) in collaboration with Tuensang District Legal Services Authority (TDLSA) on June 5.
Chaired by Yemjong BN Chang, Inspector of LMCP Tuensang, the event brought together civil society groups, student leaders, commercial traders, ward leaders, and everyday consumers to discuss the legal safeguards available to them in the marketplace.
In his keynote address, Assistant Controller C. Chullen Chang welcomed participants and emphasized that understanding consumer laws is essential, especially in a time when market systems are becoming more complex. “Awareness is not just for traders and officials. Every buyer is a consumer, and ignorance often costs more than we realize,” he said.
Delivering the main presentation, KumdilongKessen, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Tuensang, broke down the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, highlighting key provisions such as the establishment of consumer commissions at district, state, and national levels, protection against unfair trade practices, and simplified dispute redressal. “One of the most significant shifts in the 2019 Act is the introduction of e-filing and mediation as mechanisms for resolving disputes more efficiently,” he noted.
Following him, Herola, a panel lawyer with TDLSA, spoke on the theme “Know Your Rights”. She outlined the six basic rights of consumers—right to safety, right to be informed, right to choose, right to be heard, right to redress, and right to consumer education. She encouraged the audience to report defective goods or services without hesitation. “Even a small act like demanding a printed bill strengthens consumer rights,” she added.
During the Q&A session, participants raised common but pressing concerns. One consumer asked, “What can we do if a product turns out to be fake but the seller refuses to take it back?” Others questioned whether digital payments come under consumer protection and how long it usually takes for complaints to be resolved. Addressing the issue, the panel clarified that the law allows such grievances to be taken up in district consumer forums, and that photographic or digital evidence strengthens a case.
This point struck a chord with many in attendance, a resident raised a familiar concern: “What do we do if a seller is using faulty weights or tampered scales?” Officials responded that such practices are punishable under the Legal Metrology Act, and consumers can lodge complaints directly with the department or through local legal aid cells.
In her vote of thanks, Antimangyang Chang, retainer lawyer at TDLSA, expressed appreciation for the proactive participation shown by the community and the legal professionals who simplified the law for common understanding.
