BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS  (RECOGNITION OF CONSUMERS’ ASSOCIATIONS) RULES, 1991

GSR 619(E) DATED 9-10-1991

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 37 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 (63 of 1986), the Central Govern­ment hereby makes the following rules, namely:—

Short title and commencement.

1.    (1) These rules may be called the Bureau of Indian Standards (Recognition
of Consumers Associations) Rules, 1991.

(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 Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 ( 63 of 1986);

(b)   “Form” means a Form appended to the Schedule to these rules;

(c)   “Ministry” means the Ministry of Civil Supplies, Con­sumer Affairs and Public Distribution; and

(d)   “Principal Officer” in relation to a consumer associa­tion means any individual who is specifically authorised in writing or by means of a resolution adopted by such consumers’ association in that behalf.

Application for recognition of consumers’ association.

3.    (1) Every consumers’ association which is desirous of being recognised as
a registered Consumers’ Association —

(a)   shall have not less than fifty consumers as its members; and

(b)   shall make an application for such recognition in triplicate to the Bureau of Indian Standards in Form I.

(2) Every application made under sub-rule (1) shall be accompa­nied by a bank draft of rupees one thousand.

(3) On receipt of an application made under sub-rule (1), the Bureau of Indian Standards shall note thereon the date of its receipt and shall forthwith communicate such date to the appli­cant.

Form I

(5) On receipt of an application and such other additional infor­mation as may be sought under sub-rule (4), the Bureau of Indian Standards shall process the application and forward documents to the Ministry of Civil Supplies. Government of India with its recommendations for their consideration.

(6) On receipt of the recommendations of the Bureau under sub-rule (5), the Ministry shall consider those recommendations and after satisfying itself that the applicants’ association is fit to be recognised, may recognise the association in this behalf.

(7) The certificate of recognition to be issued by the Ministry under sub-rule (6) shall be in Form II.

(8) Where a certificate of recognition issued under these rules is lost, destroyed or mutilated, a duplicate may be issued on an application made in this behalf and on payment of a fee of rupees one hundred.

Payment of fees.

4.    The fees payable under those rules shall be paid in the form of a bank draft
in favour of the Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.

Refusal to grant certificate of recognition to consumers’ associ­ation.

5.    Where a certificate of recognition of a consumers’ association has been
refused, the applicant shall be informed of the reasons for such refusal by the Bureau.

Copies of certificate of recognition to be furnished to certain authorities.

6.    Every consumers’ association which has been recognised as a ‘registered
consumers’ association under these rules shall fur­nish a copy of the certificate of recognition issued to it while filing a complaint under section 35(1) of the Act.

Verification of application.

7.    Every application made under these rules shall be duly veri­fied by the
Principal Officer.

SCHEDULE

FORM I

[See sub-rule (1) of rule 3]

Form of application to be submitted to the Bureau of Indian Standards for recognition of consumers’ association.

(to be submitted in triplicate)

(1) Name of the Consumers’ Association:

(2) Address:

(a)   Registered Office:

(b)   For correspondence:

(c)   Branches:

(4)   Total number of members of the association (as on date of application):

(5)   Objects of the association (certified copy of Memorandum of Association to be enclosed along with copy of the rules and regulations of the Association):

(6)   Names, addresses and occupations of persons on the Board of Directors, Governing body, Council/Committee (by whatever name called), to whom the management of the affairs of the association is entrusted:

(7)   Number of employees:

(a)   Whole-time:

(b)   Part-time:

(8)   Year-wise details of the work done by the association during the last three years in the filed of protection of consumers’ interest:

(9)   Copies of published annual report and audited accounts of the association of the last three years:

(10)   Details of Laboratory organisation, if any, owned, run or operated by the association for purposes of protection of consum­er’s interest:

Place :…………                                                                              Signature :………………………………

Date :………….                                                                              Name & designation :…………..

VERIFICATION

I, …….. do hereby solemnly state that what is stated in terms 1 to 11 above is true to the best of my knowledge and behalf.

Place :…………                                                                              Signature :………………………………

Date :………….                                                                              Name & designation :…………..

Form II

[See sub-rule (7) of rule 3]

CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION

(Government of India)

Ministry of Civil Supplies, consumer affairs and Public distribu­tion

Certified that the consumers’ Association whose particulars are given below has this day been recognised as a “registered Con­sumers’ Association” in terms of section 34 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 (63 of 1986).

Particulars

(1)   Name of the Consumers’ Association:

(2)   Address:

(3)   Name of persons on the governing board/body/council to whom management of the Association is entrusted:

(4)   Number of members:

(5)   Registration Number:

Signature :…………………………………..

Date :……………………………………………

File No :……………………………………….

Seal of the Ministry of Civil Supplies,

Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution