As jobs dip, J&K retail sector to provide comments on Draft E-commerce Rules

6 July 2021

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Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir retail businesses are planning to submit a comprehensive and robust feedback to the Consumer Affairs Ministry after the extension of deadline for providing comments was extended till August 5.

Several leading retail business owners, hard hit by predatory e-commerce business in Jammu & Kashmir, told Ziraat Times that they are considering a comprehensive response given that most of the retail businesses are on the verge of collapse with lakhs of jobs being lost on a regular basis due to the massive expansion of e-commerce business, especially the one adopting unfair means.

“Kashmir’s retail sector is particularly badly hit, as most e-commerce companies are adopting unfair business practices, thereby jeopardizing lakhs of retail sector jobs here”, Abdul Samad, a leading retail businessman told Ziraat Times.

According to latest estimates, jobs in J&K’s retail sector are at its lowest due to the pandemic restrictions and a heavy slump in demand.

“What we see in retail markets is a big slump and major dent in purchasing power among customers in J&K. To add to the misery, e-commerce companies are doing business in a predatory mode. The government must take safeguard measures for million of jobs at risk in the retail sector”, Ashok Singh, a Jammu-based businessman said.

Pertinently, the union government on Monday extended till August 5 the deadline for public comments on proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020. Earlier, the last date for public comments on the draft e-commerce rules was July 6.

“It has now been decided to extend the timeline for receipt of comments/suggestions on the draft E-Commerce Rules. Views/ comments/ suggestions on the proposed amendments may be sent by August 5, 2021,” a government notice said. At a meeting organized by the consumer affairs ministry on July 3, many e-commerce players had requested the government to extend the July 6 deadline for submitting comments. On June 21, the ministry had released draft e-commerce rules under which it banned fraudulent flash sale and mis-selling of goods and services on e-commerce platforms.

Appointment of chief compliance officer/grievance redressal officer are among other key amendments proposed to the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020. The government also proposed registration of every e-commerce entity which intends to operate in India with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

The proposed amendments also included e-commerce entities requiring to provide information not later than 72 hours of the receipt of an order from a government agency for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of offences under any law. According to research firm CUTS International, many consumer organisations have felt that draft e-commerce rules should stick to only consumer-facing issues. The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 were first notified in July last year. Their violation attract penal action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.