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Uttar Pradesh Consumer
Protection Rules, 1987
1

In exercise of the powers under sub-section (2) of section 30 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (Act of 68 of 1986) the Governor is pleased to make the following Rules, namely :—

Short title and commencement.

1. (1) These rules may be called the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Protection Rules,
     1987.

(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

Definitions.

2. In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires:

   (a)   “Act” means the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (68 of 1986);

   (b)   “agent” means a person duly authorised by a party to present any complaint or appeal or reply on its behalf before the State Commission or the District Forum;

   (c)   “appellant” means party which makes an appeal against the order of the District Forum;

   (d)   “memorandum” means memorandum of appeal filed by the appellant;

   (e)   “opposite party” means a person who answers complaint or claim;

    (f)   “President” means the President of the State Commission or District Forum as the case may be;

   (g)   “respondent” means the person who answers any memoran­dum of appeal;

   (h)   “State” includes union territories.

2[Constitution of the State Council Section 7(2).

2A.   (1) The State Council established in Government Notification No. C.P.
           594/XXIX-8-97-C.P. 41-90, dated March 14, 1997, shall consist of the following members, namely:—

  1.   Notification No. CP-72/XXIX-10-CP(8)-87, dated 31-8-1987.

  2.   Inserted by the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Protection (Third Amdt.) Rules, 1998, w.e.f.
2-11-1998.

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    (i)   Official members:—

              (a)   The Minister Incharge of Food and Civil Supplies

                     De­partment, Uttar Pradesh                                                                 Chairman

              (b)   Principal Secretary or Secretary, as the case may be, to the State Government in Food and Civil

Supplies Department                                                                           Member

              (c)   Principal Secretary or Secretary, as the case may be, to the State Government in Industries Depart-

ment                                                                                                       Member

              (d)   Principal Secretary or Secretary, as the case may be, to the State Government in Medical and Health

Department                                                                                           Member

              (e)   Principal Secretary or Secretary, as the case may be, to the State Government in Agriculture

Department                                                                                           Member

               (f)   Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies Depart-

ment                                                                                                       Member

              (g)   Principal Secretary or Secretary, as the case may be, to the State Government in Transport Depart-

ment                                                                                                       Member

              (h)   Principal Secretary, Judicial and Legal

Remembrancer to the State Government                                          Member

               (i)   General Manager, Telecommunication                                             Member

               (j)   Director General, Consumer Protection, Uttar

Pradesh                                                                                                  Member

              (k)   Principal Secretary or Secretary, as the case may

be, to the State Government in Avas Vibhag                                  Member

               (l)   Director of Information, Uttar Pradesh                                             Member

             (m)   Drug Controller, Uttar Pradesh                                                          Member

              (n)   Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh Food and

Essential Commodities Corporation, Uttar Pradesh                       Member

              (o)   Managing Director, Provincial Coorperative Fede-

                     ration, Uttar Pradesh                                                                           Member

              (p)   Principal Secretary or Secretary as the case may be, to the State Government in Institutional

Finance Department                                                                            Member

              (q)   Managing Director, Rajya Mandi Parishad, Uttar

Pradesh                                                                                                  Member

              (r)   Executive Director, Uttar Pradesh Employees

Welfare Corporation                                                                            Member

              (s)   Regional Officer, Indian Standard Organisation,

Uttar Pradesh                                                                                        Member


 

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               (t)   State Co-ordinator, Indian Oil Corporation, Uttar

Pra­desh                                                                                                  Member

              (u)   Principal Secretary or Secretary, as the case may be, to the State Government in Nagar Vikas

Vibhag, Uttar Pradesh                                                                         Member

              (v)   Secretary, Uttar Pradesh State Electricity Board,

Luc­know                                                                                                Member

             (w)   Divisional Manager, Northern Railway, Lucknow                          Member

              (x)   Anchalik Prabandhak Life Insurance Corporation                         Member

              (y)   Secretary, Co-operative Department, Uttar

Pradesh Shasan                                                                                    Member

     (ii)   Non-Official Members

              (a)   Member, Legislative Assembly nominated by the                         Five

                     State  Government  with  the  approval    of   the                            members                                                                                                                Speaker

              (b)   Member, Legislative Council  nominated  by  the                          Three

                     State   Government   with   the  approval  of  the                            members                                                                                                                Chairman

              (c)   The representatives of  voluntary  organisations/                         Eight

                     agen­cies,  representing  the  Consumer  interests                          members

                     nominated by the State Government

              (d)   Representatives of Farmers/Services  undertak-                            Eight

                     ings/Manu­facturers/Retailers and Major  Trade                            members

                     Organisations such as Avadh Chamber of Commerces, Udyog Vyapar Mandal, Punjab-Haryana Cham­ber of Commerce etc.

              (e)   Noted persons  working  in  the  field  of  Consu-                          Sixteen

                     mer protec­tion or in public interest in the impor-                            members

                     tant areas of Society nominated by State Government

(2) (A) The members of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly shall hold office till they are members of the Legisla­tive Council or the Legislative Assembly, as the case may be, and the rest of the non-official members shall hold office for a period of three years from the date of their nomination.

Procedure of the State Council [Section 7(4)].

2B.    State Council shall observe the following procedure in regard to the
           transaction of its business, namely:—

   (a)   The meeting of the State Council shall be presided over by the chairman. In the absence of the chairman the State Council shall select a member to preside over the meeting of the Council.

   (b)   Each meeting of the State Council shall be called by giving, not less than ten days from the date of issue, notice in writing to every member.


 

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   (c)   Every notice of a meeting of the State Council shall specify the place and the day and hour of the meeting and shall contain statement of business to be transacted in the meeting.

   (d)   No proceedings of the State Council shall be invalid merely by reasons of existense of any vacancy or any defect in the Constitution of the Council.

   (e)   For the purpose of performing its functions under the Act, the State Council may constitute from amongst its members, such working groups as it may deem necessary and every working group, so constituted shall perform such functions as are as­signed to it by the State Council. The findings of such working groups shall be placed before the State Council for its consider­ation.

    (f)   The non-official member shall be entitled to first class railway fare for attending a meeting and for return journey and a daily allowance of one hundred rupees per day for attending a meeting of the State Council or any working group members of Legislative Assembly/Legislative Council shall be entitled to travelling and daily allowances at such rates as are admissible to such members.

   (g)   The resolutions passed by the State Council shall be recommendatory in nature.]

Salaries and other allowances and terms and conditions of the President and Member of the District Forum [Section 10(3)].

3.    (1) 1[(a) The President of the District Forum shall receive the salary of the
        Judge of a District Court if appointed on whole time basis or an honorarium of Rs. 200 per day if appointed on part time basis. Other members if sitting on whole time basis, shall receive a consolidated honorarium of Rs. 4,000 per month and is setting on part time basis, a consolidated honorarium of Rs. 150 per day for the sitting.]

2[(b) The President of the District Forum shall receive House Rent Allowance of Rs. 800 per month if appointed on whole time basis and no Government accommodation is provided to him.

(c) A member of the District Forum shall get House Rent Allowance of Rs. 600 per month if no Government accommodation is provided to him.]

(2) The President and the Members of the District Forum shall be entitled to such travelling allowance and daily allowance on official tour as are admissible to Grade I Officer of the State Government.

(3) The salary, honorarium and other allowances shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State Government.

(4) Before appointment, the President and Members of the District Forum shall have to take an undertaking that he does not and will not have any such financial or other interests as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member.

  1.   Substituted by the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Protection (Fourth Amdt.) Rules, 1998, w.e.f. 2-2-1999.

  2.   Substituted by the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Protection (Second Amendment) Rules, 1998, w.e.f. 20-6-1998.


 

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1[(5) In addition to provisions of section 10(2), State Government may remove from the office the president and member of a District Forum who:—

   (a)   has been adjudged an insolvent, or

   (b)   has been convicted of an offence which in the opinion of the State Government involves moral turpitude, or

   (c)   has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such member, or

   (d)   has acquired such financial or other interest as it likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member, or

   (e)   has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest, or

    (f)   does not pass judgment or order possible under Act, and in conformity with the earlier judgment and the act and does not display absolute, integrity good conduct and dutifulness.

   (g)   is guilty of an explained absence upto 7 days without permissions :

Provided that the President or member shall not be removed from his office on the ground specified in clauses (b) and (c) of this sub-rules except on an inquiry held by State Government in accordance with such procedure as it may specify in this behalf and the member is found to be guilty of such ground.]

(6) The terms and conditions of the service of the President and the Members of the District Forum shall not be varied to their disadvantage during their tenure of office.

(7) Where any vacancy occurs in the office of the President of the District Forum, the senior-most (in order of appointment) Member of District Forum, holding office for the time being, shall discharge the functions of the President until a person appointed to fill such vacancy assumes the office of the Presi­dent of the District Forum.

(8) When the President of the District Forum is unable to dis­charge the functions owing to absence, illness, or any other cause, the senior-most (in order of appointment) Member of the District Forum shall discharge the functions of the President until the day on which the President resumes the charge of his functions.

(9) The President or any Member ceasing to hold office as such shall not hold any appointment in or be connected with the management or administration of an organisation which have been the subject of any proceeding under the Act during his tenure for a period of 5 years from the date on which he cease to hold such office.

Place of sitting and other matters relating to District Forum [Section 14(3)].

4.    (1) The Office of the District Forum shall be located at the headquarter of
        the District. When State Government decides to establish a single District Forum having jurisdiction over more than one District, it shall notify the place and jurisdictions of the District Forum so established.

  1.   Substituted by the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Protection (Fifth Amdt.) Rules, 1999, w.e.f.
15-7-1999.


 

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(2) The working days and the office hours of the District Forum shall be the same as that of the State Government.

(3) The official seal and emblem of the District Forum shall be as the State Government specify.

(4) Sitting of the District Forum, as and when necessary, shall be convened by the President.

(5) No act or proceeding of the District Forum shall be invalid by reasons only of the existence of any vacancy among its members or any defect in its constitution.

(6) The State Government shall appoint such staff, as may be necessary to assist the District Forum in its day to day work and perform such other functions as are provided under these rules, or assigned to it by the President. The salary payable to such staff shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State Government.

(7) Where the opposite party admits the allegation made by the complainant the District Forum shall decide the complaint on the basis of the merit of the case and documents present before it.

(8) If during the proceedings conducted under section 13, Dis­trict Forum fixes a date for hearing of the parties, it shall be obligatory on the complainant and opposite party or its autho­rised agent to appeal before the District Forum on such date of hearing or any other date to which hearing could be adjourned. Where the complainant or his authorised agent fails to appear before the District Forum on such day, the District Forum may in its discretion either dismiss the complaint for default or decide it on merit. Where the opposite party or its authorised agent fails to appear on the day of hearing, the District Forum may decide the complaint ex parte.

(9) While proceeding under sub-rule (8), the District Forum may on such terms as it may think fit and at any stage, adjourn the hearing of the complaint but not more than one adjournment shall ordinarily be given and the complaint should be decided within 90 days from the date of notice received by the opposite party when complaint does not require analysis or testing of the goods and within 150 days if it requires analysis or testing of the goods.

(10) Orders of the District Forum shall be signed and dated by the Members of the District Forum constituting the Bench and shall be communicated to the parties free of charge.

Procedure to be adopted by the District Forum for analysis and testing of goods [Section 13(1)(c)].

5.    (1) Under section 13(1)(c), if considered necessary, the District Forum may
        direct the complainant to provide more than one sample of the goods in clean containers with stopper properly fixed on them.

(2) On receiving the samples of such goods, the District Forum shall seal it and fix labels on the containers carrying follow­ing information:—

    (i)   name and address of the appropriate laboratory to whom sample will be sent, for analysis and test;

   (ii)   name and address of the District Forum;

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(iii)   case number;

  (iv)   seal of the District Forum.

(3) The sample will be sent to the appropriate laboratory by the District Forum for sending report within 45 days or within such extended time as may be granted by the District Forum after specifying the nature of the defect alleged and date of submis­sion of the report.

Salary and other allowances and terms and conditions of the President and Members of the State Commission [Section 16(2)].

6.    (1) 1[(a) The President of the State Commission shall receive the salary of
        the judge of the High Court of appointed on whole time basis, or a consolidated honorarium of Rs. 250 per day for the sitting if appointed on part time basis. Other members if sitting on whole time basis shall receive a consolidated honorar­ium of Rs. 6,000 per month and if sitting on part time basis a consolidated honorarium of Rs. 200 per day for the sitting.]

1a[(b) The President and the Members of the State Commission shall be entitled to rent free Government accommodation. If no such accommodation is provided to the President or Member of the State Commission he shall get house rent allowance of Rs. 1,500 per month.]

(2) The President and the Members of the State Commission shall be eligible for such travelling allowance and daily allowance on official tour as are admissible to Grade I Officer of the State Government.

(3) The salary, honorarium, other allowances shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State Government.

2[(4) (a) The President of the State Commission shall hold office for a term of five years or upto the age of 70 years whichever is earlier and shall not be eligible renomination3;

(b) The Member of the State Commission shall hold office for a term of five years or upto the age of 65 years whichever is earlier and shall not be eligible for renomination3 :

Provided that President and Members may:—

   (a)   by writing under his hand and addressed to the State Government resign his office any time; and

   (b)   be removed from his office in accordance with provi­sions of sub-rule (5).]

(5) The State Government may remove from Office, President or a Member of the State Commission who,—

   (a)   has been adjudged as insolvent; or

  1.   Substituted by the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Protection (Fourth Amdt.) Rules, 1998, w.e.f. 2-2-1999.

1a.   Substituted by the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Protection (Second Amdt.) Rules, 1998, w.e.f. 20-6-1998.

  2.   Substituted by the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Protection (First Amendment) Rules, 1988, w.e.f. 30-11-1988.

  3.   This has become redundant in view of newly inserted sub-section (3) in section 16 by the Consumer Protection (Amend­ment) Act, 1993, w.e.f. 18-6-1993.


 

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   (b)   has been convicted of an offence which in the opinion of the State Government, involves moral turpitude; or

   (c)   has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such member;

   (d)   has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as a member; or

   (e)   has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicially his functions as a member, or

Provided that the President or Member shall not be removed from his office on the ground specified in clauses (d) and (e) of sub-rule (5) except on an inquiry held by State Government in accord­ance with such procedure as it may specify in this behalf and finds the member to be guilty of such ground.

(6) Before appointment, the President and Members of the State Commission shall have to take an undertaking that he does not and will not have any such financial or other interests as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as such member.

(7) The terms and conditions of the service of the President and the Members of the State Commission shall not be varied to their disadvantage during their tenure of office.

(8) Every vacancy caused by resignation and removal of the President or any other Member of the State Commission under sub-rule (4) or otherwise shall be filled by fresh appointment.

(9) Where any such vacancy occurs in the office of the President of the State Commission, the seniormost (in order of appointment) member holding office for the time being, shall discharge the functions of the President until a person appointed to fill such vacancy assumes the office of the President of the State Commis­sion.

(10) When the President of the State Commission is unable to discharge the functions owing to absence, illness or any other cause, the senior-most (in order of appointment) Member of the State Commission shall discharge the functions of President until the day on which the President resumes the charge of his func­tions.

(11) The President or any Member ceasing to hold office as such shall not hold any appointment in or be connected with the management or administration of an organisation which have been the subject of any proceeding under the Act during his tenure for a period of 5 years from the date on which he ceases to hold such office.

Place of sitting and other matters relating to State Commission [Section 14(3) read with section 18].

7.    (1) Office of the State Commission shall be located at the capital of the
        State.

(2) The working days and the office hours of the State Commission shall be same as that of the State Government.

(3) The official seal and emblem of the State Commission shall be such as the State Government may specify.


 

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(4) Sitting of the State Commission, as and when necessary, shall be convened by the President.

(5) No act or proceedings of the State Commission shall be invalid by reason only of the existence of any vacancy among its members or any defect in its constitution thereof.

(6) The Government shall appoint such staff, as may be necessary to assist the State Commission in its work and perform such other functions as are provided under these rules or assigned to it by the President. The salary payable to such staff shall be defrayed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State Government.

(7) Where the opposite party admits the allegation made by the complainant, the State Commission shall decide the complaint on the basis of the merit of the case and documents present before it.

(8) If during the proceedings conducted under section 13. State Commission fixes a date for hearing of the parties. It shall be obligatory on the complainant and opposite party or his authorised agents to appear before the State Commission on such date of hearing or any other date to which hearing could be adjourned. Where the complainant or his authorised agent fails to appear before the State Commission on such day, the State Commission may in its discretion either dismiss the complaint for default or decide it on merits where the opposite party or its authorised agent fails to appear on the day of hearing, the State Commission may decide the complaint ex parte.

(9) While proceeding under sub-rule (8), the State Commission may on such terms as it may, think fit and at any stage, adjourn the hearing of the complaint but not more than one adjournment shall ordinarily be given and the complaint should be decided within 90 days from the date of notice received by the opposite party where complaint does not require analysis or testing of the goods and within 150 days if it requires analysis or testing of the goods.

(10) Orders of the State Commission shall be signed and dated by the members of the State Commission constituting the Bench and shall be communicated to the parties free of charge.

Procedure for hearing appeal [Section 15]

8.    (1) Memorandum shall be presented by the appellant or his authorised
        agent to the State Commission in person or be sent by registered post addressed to the Commission.

(2) Every memorandum filed under sub-rule (1) shall be in legible handwriting preferably typed and shall set forth concisely under distinct heads, the grounds of appeal without any argument or narrative and such grounds be numbered consecutively.

(3) Each memorandum shall be accompanied by the certified copy of the order of the District Forum appealed against and such of the documents as may be required to support grounds of objection mentioned in the memorandum.

(4) When the appeal is presented after the expiry of the period of limitation as specified in the Act, the memorandum shall be accompanied by an application supported by an affidavit setting forth the fact on which the appellant relies to


 

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satisfy the State Commission that he has sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the period of limitation.

(5) The appellant shall submit four copies of the memorandum to the State Commission for official purpose.

(6) On the date of hearing or any other day to which hearing may be adjourned, it shall be obligatory for the parties or their authorised agents to appear before the State Commission. If appellant or his authorised agent fails to appear on such date, the State Commission may, in its discretion either dismiss the appeal or decide it on the merit of the case. If respondent or his authorised agent fails to appear on such date, the State Commission shall proceed ex parte and shall decide the appeal ex parte on the merits of the case.

(7) The appellant shall not, except by leave of the State Commis­sion, urge or be heard in support of any ground of objection not set forth in the memorandum but the State Commission, in deciding the appeal, shall not confine to the grounds of objection set forth in the memorandum or taken by leave of the State Commission under this rule:

Provided that the Commission shall not rest its decision on any other grounds unless the party who may be affected thereby, has been given, at least one opportunity of being heard by the State Commission.

(8) The State Commission may, on such terms as it may think fit and at any stage, adjourn the hearing of the appeal, but not more than one adjournment shall ordinarily be given and the appeal should be decided within 90 days from the first date of hearing.

(9) Order of the State Commission on appeal shall be signed and dated by the Members of the State Commission constituting the Bench and shall be communicated to the parties free of charge.

1[9.     (1) (a) On complaint received against the full time Presi­dent, member of
           Districts Forum and the State Commission, an enquiry shall be held by Principal Secretary or Secretary as the case may be to Government of Uttar Pradesh Food and Civil Sup­plies Department or by an officer of Government nominated by him.

(b) On complaint received against such Part time President who are working District Judge or Additional District Judge inquiry shall be held by the High Court.

(c) The complaints received against the President of the State Commission shall be inquired into by any retired Chief Justice of any High Court nominated by the State Government.

(2) On being found guilty on the basis of the findings of the aforesaid inquiry the State Government may remove the President or member of the District Forum and the State Commission from their office on grounds specified in sub-rule (5) of rule 3 and sub-rule (5) of rule 6 as the case may be of the said Rules.]

  1.   Inserted by the Uttar Pradesh Consumer Protection (Fifth Amdt.) Rules, 1999, w.e.f.
15-7-1999.