A consumer court in Patna slapped a Rs 50,000 fine on Zoom Ltd along with a hotel for delivering non-vegetarian food to a doctor who had ordered a vegetarian dish. He had ordered paneer butter masala but was delivered malai chicken instead. The consumer sent notices to both the restaurant and the online food-delivery company.
Which feature of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 made it possible for the consumer to complain against the online food-delivery company as well?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → It applies to all types of businesses, including e-commerce firms
Option (1) It covers transactions made by teleshopping, direct selling or multilevel marketing — Incorrect. The Act does cover deals made by teleshopping, direct selling or multilevel marketing. But this line is about how a consumer buys. The doctor needed the Act to cover the delivery company itself as a business.
Option (2) It applies to all types of businesses, including e-commerce firms — Correct. The Act applies to all types of businesses, supplying goods or providing services, including e-commerce firms. The online food-delivery company is an e-commerce firm. So the doctor could complain against it as well as against the restaurant.
Option (3) It treats a person who buys goods for resale as a consumer — Incorrect. A person who obtains goods for resale is not treated as a consumer. Besides, the doctor bought the food for himself.
Option (4) It provides for a central authority to regulate false or misleading advertisements — Incorrect. The Act does set up a central authority to regulate false or misleading advertisements. The case is about wrong food being delivered, and no advertisement is involved.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 The Consumer protection Act 2019 seeks to protect and promote the consumers’ interest through speedy and inexpensive redressal of their grievances. It extends to the whole of India. It is applicable to all types of businesses whether a manufacturer or a trader and whether supplying goods or providing services including e-commerce firms. The Act confers certain rights to consumers with a view to empowering them and to protect their interests.” “Who is A Consumer? A ‘consumer’ is generally understood as a person who uses or consumes goods or avails of any service. Under the Consumer Protection Act 2019, a consumer is a person who buys any goods or avails services for a consideration, which has been paid or promised, or partly paid and partly promised, or under any scheme of deferred payment. It includes any user of such goods or beneficiary of services if such use is made with the approval of the buyer. It applies to both offline and online transactions through electronic means or by teleshopping or direct selling or multilevel marketing. However, any person who obtains goods or avails services for resale or commercial purpose is not treated as a consumer and is outside the scope of Consumer Protection Act 2019.” “Government: … The Act provides for a central authority to regulate matters relating to violation of rights of consumers, unfair trade practices and false or misleading advertisements which are prejudicial to the interests of consumers. This is known as Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA). …” |