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Home Ministry Reverses Order: E-Commerce Websites To Not Deliver Non-Essentials During Extended Lockdown
The government had earlier eased restrictions on supplying non-essentials via e-commerce websites but the decision has been reversed by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday.
(Representative Image/ Getty)
New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday has announced that the supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies will remain prohibited during the 19-day lockdown ending on May 3. The central government has allowed e-commerce companies and the vehicles used by operators of these units to supply only essential goods by taking "necessary permission" during the lockdown.
The government had earlier eased restrictions on supplying non-essentials via e-commerce websites. It allowed the e-commerce companies to resume operations from April 20. But the decision has been reversed as Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued an order excluding the non-essential items from sale by the e-commerce companies from the consolidated revised guidelines, which listed the exemption given to the services and people from the purview of the lockdown. The order read: “In continuation of Ministry of Home Affairs’s Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I-(A) Dated 15th April, 2020 and 16th April, 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/Union Territory Governments and State/Union Territory Authorities: Sub-clause (v) under Clause 14 on Commercial and private establishments v. E-commerce companies. Vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be allowed to ply with necessary permissions.”
The government had earlier eased restrictions on supplying non-essentials via e-commerce websites. It allowed the e-commerce companies to resume operations from April 20. But the decision has been reversed as Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued an order excluding the non-essential items from sale by the e-commerce companies from the consolidated revised guidelines, which listed the exemption given to the services and people from the purview of the lockdown. The order read: “In continuation of Ministry of Home Affairs’s Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I-(A) Dated 15th April, 2020 and 16th April, 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/Union Territory Governments and State/Union Territory Authorities: Sub-clause (v) under Clause 14 on Commercial and private establishments v. E-commerce companies. Vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be allowed to ply with necessary permissions.” (With Agency Inputs) Watch: E-commerce companies to deliver only essential goods till May 3.#IndiaFightsCorona Supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce companies to remain prohibited during #Lockdown2 to fight #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/6Jdvuzw6VJ
— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) April 19, 2020
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Dr Prosenjit NathThe writer is a technocrat, political analyst, and author.
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