Various Laws already cover ecommerce activities

A separate regulation for e-commerce activities may not be required as these activities are covered under different laws including Information Technology Act and Consumer Protection Act, Parliament was informed today.

Over the last two years and the current year, 12 complaints have been received against e-commerce companies against deficiency in service, unfair trade practices and unauthorised collection of funds from the public, Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

He also informed that SFIO has completed investigation in the cases relating to two companies Unipay 2 Group and Speakasia Online Group.

“A separate regulation for e-commerce activities may not be required as these activities are already covered under the different laws and regulation like the Information Technology Act, the Company Law, Income tax Laws, Consumer Protection Act etc,” Paswan said in the reply.

The Minister also informed that the Consumer Protection Bill 2015 seeks to establish a Central Consumer Protection Authority, an executive agency, for protection of the interest of consumers.

The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August last year and has been referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs for further examination and report.

Source: Thehindubusinessline