NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court on Monday sought responses from the central government and various state governments on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that seeks a directive for all shop owners to disclose their identities, registration details, and number of employees at their establishments’ entrances. The move aims to facilitate consumers in filing complaints under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Centre and states after hearing submissions from advocate Eklavya Dwivedi, who was appearing for the petitioner, lawyer and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
Initially, the bench suggested approaching the High Court. However, Dwivedi emphasized that the relief sought would benefit consumers nationwide in accessing their legal remedies. He pointed out that the current absence of such information hinders consumers from approaching forums against various dealers, traders, sellers, and shop owners.
The court has directed that the matter be heard after four weeks.
Upadhyay’s petition highlights that “Every consumer has a right to know about not only the quality, quantity, potency, purity standards, manufacturing and expiry date, BIS/FSSAI certification, but also the details of distributors, dealers, sellers and shop owners, to seek redressal against unfair and restrictive trade practices and unscrupulous exploitation in the spirit of provisions of the 2019 Act.”
The PIL specifically requests the court to ensure that information including details of registration, name, address, contact, and number of employees is displayed prominently at the shop’s entrance in bold letters, clearly visible to any ordinary person. This “Right to Know” is crucial for consumers to make informed choices and protect themselves from fraudulent or deceptive practices.