The correct answer is: A product having short weight
A complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 shall be invalid if the product has short weight. This is because the Act provides that a consumer can make a complaint if he or she has suffered any loss or injury due to the deficiency in the quality, quantity, purity, standard or fitness for any purpose of any goods or services. In the case of a product having short weight, the consumer has suffered a loss because he or she has not received the full quantity of the product that he or she has paid for.
The other options are not grounds on which a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 shall be invalid. A service provided free of cost is not a deficiency in the quality, quantity, purity, standard or fitness for any purpose of any goods or services. A misleading advertisement given in newspaper is also not a deficiency in the quality, quantity, purity, standard or fitness for any purpose of any goods or services.
The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 is an Act to provide for the establishment of Consumer Protection Councils and other authorities for the promotion and protection of the rights of consumers and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of India on 24 December 1986 and came into force on 15 March 1987. The Act provides for the establishment of Consumer Protection Councils at the Central, State and District levels. The Consumer Protection Councils are responsible for promoting and protecting the rights of consumers. The Act also provides for the establishment of Consumer Disputes Redressal Forums and Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissions for the redressal of complaints of consumers.