CCPA issues notices to Flipkart and Meesho for allegedly selling acid


By MYBRANDBOOK


CCPA issues notices to Flipkart and Meesho for allegedly selling acid

The Central Consumer Protection Authority has sent notices to e-commerce players Flipkart and meesho.com for violations of norms relating to sale of acid on their platforms. The notices were sent amid a recent acid attack on a Delhi girl, where the accused had bought acid from Flipkart.

 

On a suo moto examination of online sale of corrosive acids, the CCPA came across Meesho and found it to be selling such acids in violation of directions of the Supreme Court as well as an advisory issued by the home ministry.

 

Recently, two masked men on a bike threw acid on a teenager, minutes after she left her home for school, leaving her with serious injuries. Many people raised questions over the availability of acid in markets despite a ban. The police have arrested three men and found that the main accused had procured the acid from Flipkart.

 

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs said, “CCPA has come across the sale of highly corrosive acids on these e-commerce platforms. It has questioned the easy and unregulated availability of such acids on these e-platforms. Availability of hazardous acids in such accessible manner can be dangerous and unsafe for consumers and to the public at large.”

 

The ministry said CCPA has directed these firms to submit a detailed response, along with necessary supporting documents within 7 days.

 

The home ministry had asked all states/UTs to take immediate steps to implement the measures mentioned in the advisory for reduction of acid attacks and treatment and rehabilitation of acid attack survivors. Several states/UTs have already issued guidelines to regulate the sale of acids.

 

The ‘consumer rights’ as defined under Section 2(9) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 include the right to be protected against the marketing of goods, products or services which are hazardous to life and property. The ministry said that the sale of highly corrosive acids in an easy, accessible and unregulated manner without any due diligence whatsoever by the e-marketplace entity can lead to disastrous consequences to the consumers, especially the vulnerable sections of the society, namely women and children.

 

As per Section 4 (3) of Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, no e-commerce entity shall adopt any unfair trade practice, whether in the course of business on its platform or otherwise. Under Section 18 (1) of the Act, CCPA is entitled to protect, promote and enforce the rights of consumers as a class, and prevent violation of consumer rights, as well as prevent unfair trade practices and ensure that no person engages himself in such practices.

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