Lok Sabha Question No. 1973 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-14
Subject: Checks on e-Commerce Firms
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI, SUBHASH PATEL, DHARAM VIRA GANDHI, BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL, DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1973

TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2017

## CHECKS ON E-COMMERCE FIRMS

1973. SHRI  B.  VINOD  KUMAR:  SHRI  SUBHASH  PATEL:  SHRI  DHARAM  VIRA:  DR. BHARATIBEN D. SHYAL: SHRI D.K. SURESH:

## Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk/k vkSj lkoZtfud foRrj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there are instances of online market places window-dressing the discounts they offer by quoting product prices that are higher than MRP and if so, the details thereof;

- (b) whether  the  Government  plans  to  make  it  mandatory  for  e-commerce  firms  to  put  product pictures on the site in such a manner that the printed MRP is visible and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

- (c) whether the consumer rights and protection in respect of the e-commerce is not effectively dealt with  in  the  Consumer  Protection  Act, if  so,  the  details  in  this  regard  along  with  the  measures taken by the Government to protect the rights of the e-commerce consumers;

- (d) the manner in which the Government is planning to address issues such as the place of business, jurisdictional  issues,  non-availability  of  common  dispute  resolution  system  etc.  relating  to  e- commerce;

- (e) whether the Government is aware that the Consumers are cheated by unfair practices from Ponzy companies in the country, if so, the number of such incidents reported during the last three years in the country, State and year-wise; and

- (f) whether the Government proposes to take effective measures to address the issues concerning all forms of trade practices like e-commerce, Multi-land marketing and Ponzy schemes and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a) :     No  such  complaint  concerning  online  market  places  has  been  received  by  the  Ministry, regarding the discounts offered after quoting product prices higher than MRP.
- (b)          :  Draft amendments to the Packaged Commodities Rules, 2011 contain a proposal that the mandatory labelling declarations on packages mandated as per the rules, including MRP, shall also be displayed on the e-commerce platforms.
- (c) & (d) :   The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 has been enacted to better protect the interests of the consumers. The provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 cover all goods and services and all modes of transaction including e-commerce. A consumer can file a complaint relating to ecommerce transactions in the appropriate Consumer Forum established under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.
- (e) : A total of 2,80,032 complaints were received by the National Consumer Helpline, out of which 42,559 pertain to e-commerce. No separate details of Ponzi Scheme related complaints are available with the Ministry.
- (f) :  The  Consumer  Protection  Bill,  2015,  already  introduced  in  Parliament,  seeks  to  provide  for establishment of a Central Consumer Protection Authority to look into, inter alia, unfair trade practices and take remedial action.

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