With reference to consumers rights/privileges under the provisions of law in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1) Consumers are empowered to take samples for food testing. 2) When a consumer files a complaint in any consumer forum, no fee is required to be paid. 3) In case of death of a consumer, his/her legal heir can file a complaint in the consumer forum on his/her behalf. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The correct answer is C, that is statements 1 and 3 only.

• Statement 1 is correct. Consumers can have food samples tested. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, a consumer can approach the Food Safety Officer, and under the consumer law framework goods and food can be sent for analysis through an accredited laboratory to support a complaint.
• Statement 2 is wrong. Consumer forums do not always charge nothing. Fees are prescribed under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the Consumer Protection (Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions) Rules, 2020. Claims up to Rs 5 lakh carry a nil fee, but higher claims attract a prescribed fee. The 2012 exam framing ignored this.
• Statement 3 is correct. The definition of 'consumer' includes the legal heir or representative of a deceased consumer, so the heir can file on the deceased's behalf.

The core concept is the locus standi of consumers and the procedural access to consumer justice, which links to the Mains theme of effective grievance redressal and access to justice.

Trap: Aspirants often dismiss statement 1 because samples are normally drawn by food officers, or they assume consumer forums are always free, which is no longer true for larger claims.