Latest news with #ConsumerProtectionAct
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Supreme Court issues notice on PIL seeking display of detailed info about sellers, service providers
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre, all state governments and union territories administrations on a plea seeking enforcement of consumers' right to detailed information about sellers and service providers. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyaya seeking a declaration that every consumer has right to know not only about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, manufacturing as well as expiry date and certification of goods and products, but also about the details of the distributer, dealer, trader, seller and shop owner to seek redressal against unfair trade practices, restrictive trade practices and unscrupulous exploitation. The plea also sought a direction that every distributor, dealer, trader, seller and shop owner display full details of registration or license, including name, address, number of employees and phone number at the entry gate in bold letters on a display board visible to an ordinary person. It said that the 'Right to Know' about sellers and service providers is secured under the Consumer Protection Act, read with Article 19 of the Constitution. 'Therefore, every consumer has the right to access details of product, service, as well as distributor, dealer, trader, seller and shop owner before making a purchase,' stated the plea. It added that 'Right to Know' is crucial for consumers to make informed choices and to protect themselves from unfair and restrictive trade practices and unscrupulous exploitation. As per the petition, 'Right to Know' helps consumers avoid falling prey to fraudulent or deceptive distributors, dealers, traders, sellers and shop owners, who might misrepresent products/services or disappear after sale, purchase and money transaction. The petitioner claimed that while travelling to Haridwar, he found many motels, restaurants and eateries on the Delhi-Haridwar highway, which were not displaying their registration, owner's name, address and contact number, and this is happening pan India.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Plea in SC seeks 'right to know' on product quality, seller details
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking to declare that consumers have a "right to know" about the quality, purity and certification of products, besides details of distributors and sellers for redressal against unfair restrictive trade practices. It has also sought directions to the Centre and the states to ensure that every distributor, trader and shop owner displays details of registration, including name, address, phone number and number of employees at the entry gate in bold letters on a display board visible to people. The plea is slated to come up for hearing on July 21 before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. The petition filed by petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay said "right to know" was crucial for consumers to make informed choices and to protect themselves from unfair or restrictive trade practices and unscrupulous exploitation. "Right to know helps consumers avoid falling prey to a fraudulent or deceptive distributor, dealer, trader, seller and shop owner, who might misrepresent a product/service or disappear after sale, purchase and money transaction," said the plea, filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey. It said that if a consumer has an issue with a product or service, knowing details about the distributor, dealer, and seller is essential for filing a complaint and seeking redressal through consumer redressal forums. "When a distributor, dealer, trader, seller and shop owner are transparent about their details, it fosters a fair and competitive market where consumers can make informed choices," the plea said. It said in essence, the right to know empowers consumers to be informed or protected and to make choices when engaging in sales, purchases and money transactions. The plea has sought to direct and declare that "every consumer has 'right to know' not only about quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard, manufacturing date, expiry date and BIS/FSSAI certification of good/products, but also about the details of the distributor/dealer/ trader/seller and shop owner, so as to seek redressal against unfair restrictive trade practices and unscrupulous exploitation in spirit of sections 2(6), 2(9), 2(10) and 2(11) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019".
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Commuter wins legal battle over ‘unfair' bike taxi fare practices in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: A 27-year-old man won a legal battle against a bike taxi aggregator after the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-III found the company guilty of unfair trade practices for charging the same fare for vastly different travel distances. K Rajesh, 27, frequently uses bike taxis for commuting in the city. According to the complaint, Rajesh noticed a pricing anomaly while using the aggregator's app. On June 20, he booked a ride from Nallakunta to Himayathnagar, a distance of 2.14 km, and was charged Rs 32. However, on July 4, for a much shorter ride of just 300 metres, he was charged the exact same fare of Rs 32. Rajesh submitted both fare invoices to the court, claiming the pricing model lacked transparency and misled consumers. The aggregator argued that the fare was calculated based on base charges and surge pricing mechanisms. However, the commission found that applying the same price to such significantly different distances, especially when no clear justification was offered, amounted to deceptive pricing. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The commission held that the aggregator's actions constituted an 'unfair trade practice' under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 'A consumer expects fair pricing. Charging the same amount for rides with such a stark distance difference, without reasonable explanation, is deceptive,' the commission noted in its judgment. The court directed the company to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation to the complainant for mental agony and inconvenience, along with Rs 2,000 towards litigation costs. It also advised the firm to revisit its fare algorithm and ensure pricing transparency to avoid misleading consumers—otherwise, passengers bear the brunt of hidden costs. This case adds to the growing list of complaints against app-based ride aggregators, with consumers increasingly questioning surge charges, algorithmic pricing, and lack of accountability.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia to table e-commerce bill early 2026 for stronger regulations
PUTRAJAYA: A comprehensive e-commerce bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament early next year to strengthen Malaysia's legal framework for digital transactions. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the ongoing review of e-commerce laws, which began in April 2024, will conclude by August after extensive stakeholder consultations. 'The current legal framework lacks clear regulatory powers over electronic transactions. The existing Electronic Commerce Act mainly serves as an enabling act, while enforcement relies on temporary measures under the Consumer Protection Act,' Armizan told reporters after an engagement session. He noted that Malaysia's e-commerce sector continues to grow, with revenue rising from RM1.13 trillion in 2022 to RM1.22 trillion in 2023. The new bill aims to create a fair and comprehensive framework that supports industry growth without stifling innovation. One key concern is the regulation of foreign e-commerce platforms. 'At present, the ministry has no authority to regulate or monitor foreign platforms without a physical presence in Malaysia,' Armizan said, highlighting issues like tax inequality and an influx of foreign products. Discussions are underway with countries like China and Turkiye to establish government-to-government mechanisms for cross-border e-commerce oversight. Consumer protection remains a priority, particularly regarding automated decision-making (ADM) systems and algorithms that may contain manipulative elements. The ministry is also reviewing recent fee hikes by e-commerce platforms, which Armizan described as poorly timed. 'While blocking such decisions entirely may not be realistic, we are exploring a mechanism requiring platforms to consult with relevant agencies before implementing fee changes,' he said. The review process has involved 23 engagement sessions, six roundtable discussions, four international benchmarking visits, and feedback from over 300 respondents. Additional sessions will be held in Sabah and Sarawak. - Bernama
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
New e-commerce laws in the works
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali speaks during a press conference in conjunction with the engagement session on the review of e-commerce legislation, held in Putrajaya. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star PUTRAJAYA: Updated legislations aimed at better protecting consumers and strengthening oversight of e-commerce platforms are expected to be brought to Parliament next year, says Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (pic). The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said a study into existing legislation is underway and should be completed by next month. Among the areas being assessed is the need to amend the Electronic Commerce Act 2006 (Act 658), he added. Explaining further, he said Act 658 was first introduced as an enabling law to recognise and facilitate e-commerce trade, and there have been several suggestions on whether to repeal the Act or introduce an improved version. 'These are among the issues that will be finalised once the study and engagement sessions are completed. 'The findings will then be presented to the Cabinet and the Attorney-General's Chambers,' he told a press conference ahead of a town hall session with e-commerce traders yesterday. 'I would prefer for it to be tabled by the end of this year, but due to factors beyond our control, it will be brought, at the latest, during Parliament's first sitting next year,' he added. Armizan said there is a need to revisit Act 658 to create consistent regulations that not only protect consumers but also support continued growth in the sector. 'There was a review conducted in 2012 on how complaints are channelled alongside consumer protection. 'However, the decision was made to retain it as consumer protection regulations would be covered under the Consumer Protection Act.' Armizan said the ministry is also studying mechanisms to regulate e-commerce platforms based abroad that have products entering the local market. Among the options being explored are establishing an act that provides extra-territorial jurisdiction and pursuing government-to-government (G2G) cooperation. On another matter, he said the ministry is exploring possible mechanisms to require e-commerce platforms to consult the authorities before introducing any additional charges on sellers. Armizan acknowledged that current regulations do not give his ministry any regulatory powers. 'To me, what the platform did is not timely, as there was a review last year and now there is another review. 'To halt this 100% is difficult but we are looking at how we can get platforms to have an engagement with the authorities before coming to any decision,' he said. This comes after an e-commerce platform introduced a revised fee for all completed orders. The fee is directly deducted from each order before the sales proceeds are transferred to the seller's account. On July 11, MCA's economic and SME affairs committee chairman Datuk Lawrence Low said the revised fee structure would affect nearly every stage of a seller's operations. While some of the charges may seem small individually, Low warned that this would cumulatively place a significant financial strain on sellers and ultimately lead to higher prices for consumers.
