Supreme Court Exempts Lawyers from Consumer Act Liability
On May 14, 2024, the Supreme Court of India ruled that lawyers are exempt from liability under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) of 1986. This decision, led by Justices Bela Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal, overturned a 2007 ruling by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) which had categorized legal services as subject to the Act. The Court emphasized that legal services, due to their unique professional characteristics, do not constitute a ‘service’ under the CPA. The ruling highlighted the distinction between professional services and commercial trades, impacting both the legal and medical professions by suggesting a reevaluation of the inclusion of such services under the CPA.
