Govt to form panel to deal with complaints of online shoppers

New Delhi: The government will set up a committee to suggest ways to deal with complaints of consumers who trade on e-commerce platforms, Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Tuesday.

The decision has been taken in the wake of several complaints from online buyers related to delay or non-delivery of products and sub-standard goods, he added.

"E-commerce is growing. There are many consumer complaints. We will set up a committee to look into this matter and suggest how to deal with it," Paswan told reporters after the 30th meeting of the Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC) here.

The issue was discussed in length in the CCPC meeting and it was decided that the new committee will submit the report on e-commerce issues within 15 days, a senior Consumer Affairs Ministry official said.

The suggestions made by the committee will be incorporated in the rules after the passage of the proposed Consumer Protection Bill in Parliament. The bill also has provisions to protect e-commerce consumers, he said.

A Parliamentary Standing Committee is vetting the bill and is mostly likely to submit its report in the upcoming session of Parliament.

The Ministry is also planning to hold separate discussions with e-commerce companies and NGOs on rising complaints of consumers and ways to curb them.