Flipkart pays Rs 1L fine for selling undersized pressure cookers

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has passed injunction for consumer rights violation by e-commerce platform flip card for allowing the sale of household pressure cookers in violation of mandatory standards.



According to the CCPA chief Nidhi KhareCCPA has instructed Flipkart to notify consumers of all 598 pressure cookers sold on its platform, recall the pressure cookers and refund their prices to consumers, and submit a compliance report within 45 days.

The company must also pay a fine of Rs 100,000 for allowing the sale of such pressure cookers on its e-commerce platform and violating consumer rights.

The Central government from time to time informs the Quality Control Orders specifying mandatory conformity to a standard and using a standard brand for a product to protect consumers from the risk of injury and damage and in the interest of people in general.

The Domestic pressure cooker (Quality Control) order, which came into effect on February 1, 2021, mandates compliance with IS 2347:2017 for all domestic pressure cookers.

Therefore, since February 1, 2021, all pressure cookers are required to comply with IS 2347:2017 and care must be taken whether the pressure cookers are offered for sale online or offline.

The CCPA noted that provisions in the “Flipkart Terms of Use,” such as the mandatory use of the words “Powered by Flipkart” on every invoice of the product and distinguishing sellers as gold, silver and bronze for the distribution of various benefits, the role played by Flipkart in selling the pressure cookers on its e-commerce platform.

Flipkart admittedly earned a total fee of Rs 1,84,263 from selling such pressure cookers on its e-commerce platform.

CCPA noted that once Flipkart has gained commercial advantage from selling such pressure cookers, it cannot alienate itself from the role and responsibility arising from their sale to consumers.

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