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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Friday disposed of a plea seeking direction to the Central Government to ensure that the E-Commerce websites display the name of the manufacturing country on the products offered for sale on their websites stating that the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 covers the issue. 

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Yashwant Varma disposed of the plea in light of the provisions of the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020.

The order has been passed in a plea filed by Advocate Amit Shukla stating that "the economy of a country defines the strength of the nation. In this era of E-Commerce when a huge part of the consumer goods, apparel, décor, cookware, kid's stuff, sports, etc. is sold through the e-market, it becomes essential that the Manufacturing country or country of origin of each good or commodity is conspicuously displayed on the E-Commerce websites and applications."

Advocate Amit Shukla appearing in person argued that there are thousands of websites that are non-compliant.

The plea alleged that in the year 2017 Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 were amended and a mandate was inserted to publish the country of origin/manufacture on the E-Commerce Website, however, the same was never enforced for the E-Commerce companies.

Furthermore, the plea submitted that "when a large number of Indian citizens intend to comply with the government’s appeal to promote and buy Indian goods in order to strengthen the nation, it becomes essential that the E-Commerce Websites conspicuously display the country of manufacturing/origin for all products sold through an E-Commerce platform."

Additionally, it was argued that the economy of the entire nation would suffer in the event the E-Commerce websites continue not to mention the manufacturing country/country of origin of products in the E-commerce Websites.

Case Title: Amit Shukla Vs. Union of India & Ors.