The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on Amazon for allowing sweets and food products falsely labeled as "Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad" to be sold on its platform without permission from the Ram Mandir Trust, according to medianama.com. The regulator ruled that Amazon cannot claim intermediary protection under the IT Act while benefiting commercially from such transactions.
The issue came to light in 2024 when the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) reported the matter to Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, who then referred it to the CCPA. CAIT alleged that Amazon Seller Services permitted the listing and sale of commercially produced sweets marketed as exclusive offerings linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, without any authorization or endorsement from the temple or the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Trust.
The CCPA described the practice as a deliberate attempt to exploit religious sentiments of devotees and consumers for commercial gain. The regulator emphasized that marketplace entities cannot selectively invoke their intermediary status to avoid consumer protection obligations while profiting from sales on their platforms. This ruling highlights the increasing scrutiny on e-commerce platforms regarding misleading product listings tied to religious or cultural symbols.
The fine against Amazon follows a detailed investigation by the CCPA and sets a precedent for stricter enforcement of consumer protection laws in cases involving deceptive trade practices linked to religious sentiments. The full CCPA order is publicly available on medianama.com.