10. Evaluative Study of Consumer Protection Act with Reference to E-Commerce Transactions

The proverb “Consumer is King” emphasizes the value of a customer from a marketer’s perspective. In order to thrive in the current market, it is imperative that customers’ protection be taken into account. Since the emergence of e-commerce, consumer protection has received more attention. Not only has there been a significant shift in the manner that commerce is conducted, but customer awareness has also increased. Mahatma Gandhi remarked, “The most significant guest on our property is the customer. We are depending on him, not the other way around.” Since customers generate demand in the commercial market, they are the foundation of the whole supply chain. With only a mouse click, customers may now access a multitude of shopping possibilities while relaxing in the comfort of their own home or workplace, thanks to the widespread use of technology. Customers no longer have to cope with the inconvenience of carrying cash, shopping in crowded areas, or handling salespeople’s callous attitudes. Customers are also drawn to websites by the more convenient pricing that is offered there. The current information technology era necessitates appropriate regulatory measures for consumer protection (Goldsmith and McGregor, J Consumer Stud Home Econ 24(2):124–127, 2000). Given the increase in cybercrimes involving online transactions, it is imperative to have an appropriate system in place to address legal and consumer concerns. The notion of consumer protection, its implications, and the shortcomings of consumer protection in the case of e-commerce transactions are the focus areas of this paper. Because of e-commerce trends, special attention has been paid to the laws pertaining to consumer protection that were in effect prior to technological improvements and to different revisions made by the government.