The High Court of Delhi on Wednesday issued notice to both the Central government and the Delhi government on a PIL seeking a complete ban on cash transactions of goods and services purchased through online shopping platforms like Amazon and Flipkart.

It directed the Union of India and the Delhi government to file their response within four weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on August 1.

The petition was filed by Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking directions to the Central government and States to restrict cash transactions of Rs 10,000 and above on goods, products and services purchased through online shopping platforms. 

Filed under Article 226, the petition further sought direction to the Union of India and state governments to restrict cash transactions on air ticket, rail ticket, electricity bill, LPG Bill, CNG Bill, Municipality Bill and other such bills of Rs 10,000 and above.

The plea claimed that the prayers sought in the PIL were a practical solution to control corruption, black money generation, money laundering, benami transactions and disproportionate assets.

It said corruption, black money generation and benami transactions had devastating effects on equality, justice, liberty, fraternity, dignity of individual, unity and national integration and fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21. 

The petition also sought directions to both the Centre and state governments to recall currency above Rs 100, link assets above Rs 50,000 with the Aadhaar card of an individual, confiscate 100 percent black money, benami property and disproportionate assets, besides sentencing looters to life imprisonment. 

The plea claimed that these actions would result in the increment of two percent in annual GDP, ensure adequate tax revenue for the Centre, States and Local Bodies, and also bring transparency in the economy.

The steps would ensure a drop of around 10 percent in commodity prices, availability of loan at around five percent annual rate of interest and almost 10 percent reduction in construction costs, it added.

The petition claimed that this would help in controlling the terrorist and anti-national activities, weeding out of corruption and lead to cent percent subsidy benefits for the needy.

The steps would further ensure good infrastructure, social security and significant growth in agriculture industry and employment. They would further shift the focus from tax manipulation to innovation, increasing the global competitiveness of Indian businesses, noted the plea.

The petition further claimed that such actions would also clean the electoral process, which was currently dominated by black money and benami transactions and was thriving on a cycle of black investments, capture of power through foul means, use of political strength to amass private wealth, all with disdain of the citizen. 

There may be some inconvenience for a short period and political leaders who have fostered corruption and have huge black money may focus on the distress to the common man, but an honest citizen won’t lose his hard-earned savings and no one would get confiscated, added the petition.

A petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court by Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking directions to the Central government and States to restrict cash transactions of Rs 10,000 and above on goods, products and services, purchased through online shopping platforms like Amazon and Flipkart. 

Filed under Article 226, the petition further sought direction to the Union of India and state governments to restrict cash transactions on air ticket, rail ticket, electricity bill, LPG Bill, CNG Bill, Municipality Bill and other such bills of Rs 10,000 and above.

The plea claimed that the prayers sought in the PIL were a practical solution to control corruption, black money generation, money laundering, benami transactions and disproportionate assets.

It said corruption, black money generation and benami transactions had devastating effects on equality, justice, liberty, fraternity, dignity of individual, unity and national integration and fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21. 

The petition also sought directions to both the Centre and state governments to recall currency above Rs 100, link assets above Rs 50,000 with the Aadhaar card of an individual, confiscate 100 percent black money, benami property and disproportionate assets, besides sentencing looters to life imprisonment.

The plea also listed the benefits of taking such steps, stating that it would lead to adequate tax revenue for the Centre, States and Local Bodies, besides bringing transparency in the economy.

The steps would ensure a drop of around 10 percent in commodity prices, availability of loan at around five percent annual rate of interest and almost 10 percent reduction in construction costs, it added.

The petition claimed that this would help in controlling the terrorist and anti-national activities, weeding out of corruption and lead to cent percent subsidy benefits for the needy.

The steps would further ensure good infrastructure, social security and significant growth in agriculture industry and employment. It would shift the focus from tax manipulation to innovation, increasing the global competitiveness of Indian businesses.

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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