Govt makes a U-turn, stops e-commerce platforms from selling non-essential items

The government on Sunday prohibited e-commerce platforms from selling non-essential items during the lockdown, four days after allowing the companies to sell mobile phones, refrigerators and ready-made garments.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued an order excluding the non-essential items from the cart of e-commerce companies. The order said the following clause -- "E-commerce companies. Vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be allowed to ply with necessary permissions" -- is excluded from the guidelines.

The April 15 order had said e-commerce platforms were allowed to sell such items from April 20.

The reason for reversing the order is not known immediately. But there was a talk of some retail traders mounting pressure on the government that local shops be also allowed to sell non-essentials items, like e-commerce giants.

E-commerce platforms are allowed to sell essential commodities such as food, pharmaceutical and medical devices.

The previous order said, "Supply of ...