The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has ordered e-commerce platform Flipkart to pay a penalty of Rs 1 lakh for allowing the sale of domestic pressure cookers that weren't up to standard. The sale has been deemed in violation of consumer rights.
CCPA Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said Flipkart has been ordered to notify the consumers who bought 598 pressure cookers. The company needs to recall the products and reimburse their prices. The e-commerce platform is expected to submit a compliance report within 45 days.
The Central government notifies the Quality Control Orders specifying compulsory conformity to a standard and use of the standard mark for a product from time to time. This is to protect consumers from the risk of suffering injury and harm. The Domestic Pressure Cooker (Quality Control) order came into effect on February 1, 2021. It mandated conformity to IS 2347:2017 for all domestic pressure cookers.
Flipkart admittedly earned a total fee of Rs 1,84,263 through the sale of pressure cookers that weren't up to standard. CCPA observed that the company gained commercially from the sale of such products. The use of the words "powered by Flipkart" in the 'Flipkart terms of use' proves that the company cannot alienate itself from its role and responsibility.