Delhi HC Issues Notice to Centre on Plea Seeking Direction to E-Commerce Websites to Display MRP

On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to centre, asking centre & others to file reply on a petition seeking direction to e-commerce websites to display MRP (Maximum Retail Price), seller information, manufacturer’s name and the country of origin on the items offered for sale on e-commerce websites. The further hearing of the matter will take place on March 12. 

The Petition was filed in the month of January by Ajay Kumar Singh via attorney Rajesh K Pandit. The petitioner has attempted to guide the respondent centre to provide guidelines to ensure compliance with the requirements of  Consumer Protection (Ecommerce) Rules, 2020 & Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodity) Rules, 2011. 

The petitioner said, the Government of India amended the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodity) Rules, 2011 in the year 2017 and subsequently enacted the Consumer Security (e-commerce) Rules 2020, acknowledging the increasing importance of e-commerce in the country and in order to protect the interests of consumers. He added that the main purpose of the change in law was to understand the role of e-commerce and make e-commerce companies responsible for showing or revealing all related information to consumers before purchasing and making a decision to buy or information that may be relevant to customers after the purchase to overcome complaints. The petitioner added that various e-commerce companies have been actively violating the law as they have been offering products for sale without disclosing sufficient information and it is very evident upon visiting digital channels of such companies. 

The petition claimed that these companies are blatantly violating government standards and not complying with the mandatory guidelines under Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodity) Rules 2011 & Consumer Protection (e-commerce) Rules 2020 and thus inducing consumers to purchase products with insufficient information, its actual price & seller details. Due to the going tensions with China, the matter of goods' country of origin has become a talking point.