New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued orders against the top five e-commerce platforms — Amazon (NASDAQ:), Flipkart, Snapdeal, Shopclues and Meesho — for breaching consumer rights and unfair trade practice, for the sale of car seat belt alarm stop clips.
The clips compromise the life and safety of consumers by stopping alarm beeps when they are not wearing their seat belt.
Led by the Chief Commissioner, Nidhi Khare, who is also the Additional Secretary of the Department of Consumer Affairs, CCPA, passed the orders against the aforementioned entities, official sources said.
In view of the instructions issued by the CACP, compliance reports were submitted by the five e-commerce entities.
Based on CCPA’s initiative, around 13,118 ads of car seat belt alarm stop clips have been removed from e-commerce platforms.
In addition to this, the ACFA has also issued a notice among stakeholders, which includes the secretaries of the Ministry of Road Transport and the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, as well as the Chief Secretaries of States, e-commerce entities and industry associations. , refrain from manufacturing, selling or offering for sale car seat belt alarm caps.
Normally, when a car driver is not wearing the seat belt, a beep sound will start to emanate along with the flashing of an icon on the dashboard, alerting the driver to wear the seat belt.
However, these online retailers have been found to sell car seat belt alarm stop clips, which stop the beeping sound when the seat belt is not worn by drivers.
Considering the seriousness of the said product on the safety and precious life of consumers, the CCPA referred the case to the DG Investigation (CCPA).
Based on the recommendation of the investigation report and the submissions made by the e-commerce entities, the CCPA issued instructions to the e-commerce platforms, where they were asked to permanently delist all clips car seat belt alarm stop devices and associated motor vehicle components that compromise the safety of passengers and the public.
The matter of the sale of car seat belt alarm stop clips was brought to the CCPA’s attention by the Department of Consumer Affairs through a letter from the Department of Road Transport and Highways, sources familiar with the developments said.
The Ministry of Road Transport highlighted the problem of the blatant sale of car seat belt alarm stop clips and asked the Department of Consumer Affairs to take action against errant sellers and online platforms.
He also urged the consumer affairs department to issue a notice on the matter, sources said.
Rule 138 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 mandates the wearing of seat belts.
However, the online sale of such items that compromise the safety of passengers by stopping the alarm beeping when they are not wearing their seat belts can be dangerous and dangerous to the lives and safety of consumers.
It is imperative to say that the use of car seat belt alarm stop clips can also be a hindrance for consumers seeking claim amounts in auto insurance policy cases, where a company insurance may deny the claim on the grounds of plaintiff’s negligence for the use of these clips. , added sources.
On the other hand, the use of a seat belt acts as a restraint that allows the airbag to provide proper cushion and not hit the passengers with full force, which also functions as a protective shield in collision case.
–IANS
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