Right to Information About Goods and Services
Written in plain language to promote general understanding. This is educational information, not legal advice. Based on Indian central (Union) law — Constitution of India, central Acts of Parliament, and Supreme Court decisions.
Indian Central Law
What is this right?
Consumers have a legal right to accurate and complete information about the goods and services they purchase.
- Right to information (CPA 2019, s. 2(9)): Consumers have the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, and price of goods and services to protect against unfair trade practices.
- Mandatory MRP disclosure (Legal Metrology — Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011): Every pre-packaged product must display the:
- Name and address of the manufacturer/packer.
- Net quantity (weight, volume, count).
- Maximum Retail Price (MRP) inclusive of all taxes.
- Month and year of manufacture and best-before date (where applicable).
- Food labelling (FSSAI): Packaged foods must carry nutritional information, allergen declarations, veg/non-veg symbol, and shelf life — FSSAI (fssai.gov.in) enforces this.
- Service disclosures: Service providers (hospitals, hotels, airlines) must disclose all charges upfront and cannot add charges not disclosed at the time of agreement.
When does it apply?
- A product you purchased does not display MRP or carries a false MRP.
- A packaged food product does not show ingredients, allergens, or expiry date.
- A service provider (hotel, hospital) added charges not disclosed before you agreed to the service.
What should you do?
- Report MRP violations to the Legal Metrology Inspector in your district (under the state Weights and Measures department).
- Report food labelling violations to the nearest FSSAI Food Safety Officer or on the FSSAI portal.
- For undisclosed service charges, refuse payment and file a complaint with the National Consumer Helpline (1800-11-4000) or Consumer Commission.
What should you NOT do?
- Do not pay prices above MRP — overcharging is immediately actionable; the seller has no defence for charging above the printed MRP.
- Do not purchase packaged food without checking the expiry/best-before date — selling expired food is an offence under FSSAI.
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