NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION

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Picture Courtesy: Live Law

Context: Cloudtail India Pvt. Ltd., a prominent online retailer, has lost its appeal against the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) over the sale of substandard pressure cookers. The CCPA had ordered the company to recall 1,033 units of domestic pressure cookers that did not meet the mandatory BIS standards and posed a risk to the consumers. The company was also fined ₹1, 00,000 for violating consumer rights and the Quality Control Order (QCO).

Details

• Cloudtail India Pvt. Ltd. challenged an order from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) regarding its violation of consumer rights by selling domestic pressure cookers that did not conform to mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) standards.
  • According to the Quality Control Order (QCO) that was implemented on 01.02.2021, domestic pressure cookers must comply with the Indian Standard (IS) 2347: 2017 and display the standard mark with a license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as per Scheme-I of Schedule II of Bureau of Indian Standard (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018.
• The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) upheld the CCPA's order and dismissed the company's appeal, stating that the company had failed to exercise due diligence and care in ensuring the quality and safety of the products sold. The NCDRC also observed that the company had not disputed the fact that the pressure cookers were non-compliant with the BIS standards and that it had sold them without obtaining a valid license from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
• The NCDRC further noted that the company had not taken any steps to recall the defective pressure cookers or to inform the consumers about the potential hazards. The NCDRC said that the company had acted negligently and irresponsibly and had caused harm to the consumers' health and safety.

The NCDRC's decision is a significant one as it reinforces the accountability of online retailers for ensuring the quality and safety of the products sold by them. It highlights the importance of complying with the BIS standards and QCO, which are meant to protect consumers from substandard and hazardous products. The decision sends a strong message to consumers to be vigilant and aware of their rights and remedies in case of defective or unsafe products.

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NATIONAL CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/national-consumer-disputes-redressal-commission#:~:text=It%20Issues%20directions%20to%20the,a%20false%20or%20misleading%20advertisement.

QUALITY CONTROL ORDERS: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/national-consumer-disputes-redressal-commission#:~:text=It%20Issues%20directions%20to%20the,a%20false%20or%20misleading%20advertisement.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1951354