Lok Sabha Question No. 441 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Unethical Pricing  by Shops on Highways
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

## Government of India

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.441

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## UNETHICAL PRICING BY SHOPS ON HIGHWAYS

## 441. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware about the unethical pricing followed by shops on isolated highways, taking advantage of the travellers, who are left with no better options than pay what they ask for;
- (b) whether there is any one step call or message solution for consumers to get their issues addressed at real time and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  there  are  any  specific  guidelines  or  regulations  in  place  to  prevent  such  exploitation  and protect consumer rights on isolated highways;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether any measures are being considered by the Government to raise awareness among travellers about their rights and the appropriate channels for lodging complaints against such unethical practices; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh ch- ,y- oekZ½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L. VERMA)

(a), (c) & (d) :  Rule 18 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 provides that no retail dealer or other person including manufacturer, packer, importer and wholesale dealer shall make any sale of any commodity in packed form at a price exceeding the retail sale price thereof.

Section 36 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 provides for penalty provisions in case of violation of  the  provisions  of  the  Legal  Metrology  Act,  2009  and  the  provisions  of  the  Legal  Metrology  (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.  Rule 32 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 provides for compounding amount for selling of products for more than the Maximum Retail Price.

Under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 State Governments are empowered to take action for selling packaged commodities at the price higher than MRP, as the enforcement of weights and measures laws is done by the State Governments.

- (b) : The Department runs the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) which has emerged as a single point of access to consumers across the country for grievance redressal at pre-litigation stage. Consumers can register  their  grievances  from  all  over  the  country  in  17  languages  (i.e.  Hindi,  English,  Kashmiri,  Punjabi, Nepali, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Maithali, Santhali, Bengali, Odia, Assamese, Manipuri)  through  a  toll-free  number  1915.  These  grievances  can  be  registered  on  Integrated  Grievance Redressal  Mechanism  (INGRAM),  an  omni-  channel  IT  enabled  central  portal,  through  various  channelsWhats App, SMS, mail, NCH app, web portal, Umang app as per their convenience.

(e) & (f)    :     The Department of Consumer Affairs is implementing an exclusive scheme namely 'Consumer Awareness' to generate consumer awareness and empower the consumers under the aegis of 'Jago Grahak Jago' campaign through various media including electronic, outdoor and social media. The Department, in 2022-23,  has  launched  'Jagriti',  a  mascot  for  empowering  consumers  and  generating  awareness  of  their rights. The Department participates in prominent fairs/festivals/events where a large number of people may congregate. The Department also provides grant-in-aid to various States/UTs for generating awareness at local level.

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