Delhi High Court sought response from the Centre on a petition seeking direction to e-commerce websites to prominently display names of manufacturer, country of origin, and MRP of products sold on their platforms
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought response from the Centre on a petition seeking direction to e-commerce websites to prominently display names of manufacturer, country of origin, and Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of products sold on their platforms.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued a notice to the Centre and others to file reply on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and listed the matter for further hearing on March 12.
In his petition, Ajay Kumar Singh, a resident of Ghaziabad, filed through advocate Rajesh K Pandit, contended that the requirements mandated under the Consumer Protection (Ecommerce) Rules, 2020 and Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 do not comply with the e-commerce websites.
The plea reads, “Economy of the entire nation would suffer in the event the e-commerce websites continue not to mention the MRP, seller details, manufacturing country/country of origin of products on e-commerce websites. Since the MRP of the product is not displayed the customers are forced to buy the product at a higher cost fixed by the manufacturers.”
The plea further stated, “Important rights of consumers are also being violated as they are not made aware of the seller at the time of purchase.”
A large number of people are being affected due to such information not being provided by e-commerce websites, the petitioner claimed.
The plea had sought a direction to the Centre, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Fashnear Technologies Private Limited, owner of e-commerce portal Meesho, to ensure that mandatory declarations of products offered for sale are displayed on websites and Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and Consumer Protection Act, 2019 complied with.