Ram Mandir Prasad: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Amazon Seller Services Private Limited. It is being told that the company had given permission to sell common sweets in the name of ‘Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad’ on its platform without the approval of Ram Mandir Trust. According to ‘Bar & Bench’, the CCPA said that the devotees would naturally consider the ‘Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad’ as being offered to the Lord and having his blessings. The fine will have to be deposited within 15 days.
Further, the order states that commercial use of this name for mango sweet products without the approval of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is not only a misleading trade practice under the CP Act, but is also an insult to the religious sentiments of crores of customers.
Who issued the order?
This order was issued by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra on August 4 after the complaint of ‘Confederation of All India Traders’ in January 2024. The CCPA also said that Amazon was complicit in serving misleading advertisements because it hosted, displayed, and facilitated the sale of these products. Therefore, he cannot claim the ‘safe harbor protection’ available to intermediaries under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act (IT Act).
Which sweets are mentioned in the complaint?
The complaint mentioned four types of sweets listed by ‘Chandu Trading Company’ under the brand ‘Bihar Brothers’, mainly ghee laddus, khoya laddus, boondi laddus and cow milk pedas.