What happened
The Supreme Court granted six weeks to several states and union territories to file their responses in a public interest litigation (PIL). The PIL seeks directions requiring shop owners to display their identity, registration details, and the number of employees at their establishments so that consumers can pursue complaints.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard the PIL. The Supreme Court gave time for respondents that had not filed replies within the earlier schedule.
The PIL was filed by lawyer and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay. The petition argued that mandatory disclosure requirements can function as a consumer rights safeguard by making it easier for consumers to identify the shop and pursue complaints under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Background and earlier position
The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provides consumer dispute redressal and regulates consumer-related disputes. In practice, consumers often need clear identification of the establishment and the responsible persons to pursue complaints effectively.
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