Govt changes E-commerce rules again, bars shopping websites from supplying non-essential services during lockdown

New Delhi | Jagran News Desk: The government on Sunday announced that the supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain prohibited during the coronavirus lockdown.

In a fresh order on Sunday, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued the fresh guideline on Sunday, stating the states and the Union Territories (UTs) implement the same with immediate effect under the Disaster Management rules.

In his capacity as Chairperson, National Executive Committee, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued the order for strict implementation by other ministries and departments.

"In continuation of Ministry of Home Affairs order no. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated April 15, 2020 and April 16, 2020 and in exercise of the powers, conferred under Section 10(2)(I) of the Disaster Management Act, the undersigned, in his capacity as chairperson, National Executive Committee, hereby orders to exclude the following from the consolidated revised guidelines for strict implementation by ministries/ departments of government of India, state and union territories (UTs): supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies to remain prohibited during lockdown," the government said in its order.

The government had earlier allowed the sale of mobile phones, refrigerators, clothes, television sets and laptops through e-commerce platforms. However, the decision had invited criticism from the Confederation of Indian Traders (CAIT) which called it 'unjust'.

"More than 40 lakh traders are supplying essential goods across India ever since the lockdown came into effect. Sidelining and ignoring them, the e-commerce companies have been allowed to deliver non-essential goods from April 20 onwards. It is a one-sided and unjust decision and against the larger interest of the traders and will create an imbalance in the country. Today, we have written a letter to PM Modi, asking him to intervene in the matter and reconsider the decision," Secretary-General of the CAIT Praveen Khandelwal told ANI.

"When the lockdown was announced, these e-commerce companies had suspended their operations. We want to know today what is the necessity for which they have been given permission. We have no objection if they are given permission to provide essential services but why the non-essential goods," he added.

He also said that People's Bank of China (PBOC) raising its stake in the HDFC Bank was a bad move for India.

"This is alarming, I do not know why are we allowing China to invest in one of our strongest banks. So in a way, China always tries to capture the Indian economy, earlier it was through flooding the markets with its goods and now it is trying to interfere in our banking sector," Khandelwal said.

(With ANI inputs)