A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a direction to e-commerce websites to display seller details, the Maximum Retail Price (MRP), the name of the manufacturer and the country of origin on products for sale on their websites.
The PIL was filed by Ajay Kumar Singh, a resident of Ghaziabad, through advocate Rajesh K Pandit, stated that he has done due research and found that the requirements mandated under the Consumer Protection (Ecommerce) Rules, 2020 and Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, are not complied with.
The plea highlighted that platforms where products are sold through referrals, such as Instagram, Facebook, which operate digital platforms facilitating social media e-commerce, are flagrantly flouting these mandatory rules.
The petition said the key objective of the change in law has been to recognize the role of e-commerce and make e-commerce companies accountable for displaying or disclosing all information that is relevant to the consumer prior to purchase.
“Important rights of consumers are also being violated as they are not made aware of the seller at the time of purchase,” the plea reads.
While relying on media reports, the petitioner highlighted that despite operating on this large scale, these e-platforms, the mobile app/website offer products for sale without adequate disclosure of information to the customers as required as per law.
It sought a direction to the Centre, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Fashnear Technologies Pvt Ltd, owner of e-commerce portal Meesho, to ensure that mandatory declarations of products offered for sale are displayed on websites.
Rule 10 of Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 provide mandates e-commerce entities to display the name and address of the manufacturer, name of the country of origin, common/generic name of the product, net quantity, best before/use by date (if applicable), maximum retail price, dimensions of the commodity, etc.
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