Member of Parliament and Secretary General of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Shri Praveen Khandelwal, has written to Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, drawing urgent attention to the “alarming and unchecked violations” being committed by several e-commerce and quick commerce companies in India.

In his letter, Shri Khandelwal expressed deep concern that many of these companies are continuously flouting existing legal and policy frameworks with complete impunity, undermining fair trade practices and harming the interests of small and medium traders. He pointed out that, despite the Government’s clear FDI guidelines and the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, several platforms continue to operate as inventory-based models under the guise of marketplaces, indulge in predatory pricing and deep discounting, and offer preferential treatment to select sellers—actions that are in direct violation of the law.

Highlighting the growing challenge posed by unregulated “quick commerce” operations, Shri Khandelwal said that “These companies are also violating local trade norms, ignoring licensing and delivery safety protocols, and disrupting the traditional retail ecosystem. Such practices are not only non-transparent but also threaten the livelihoods of lakhs of small traders and neighborhood shops, who form the backbone of India’s retail economy”.

*Calling for immediate government intervention, Shri Khandelwal urged the Ministry to:*

1.Formulate specific regulatory guidelines for e-commerce and quick commerce sectors under the Consumer Protection Act and FDI Policy.

2.Ensure strict enforcement of existing laws with penal provisions for violations.

3.Mandate full disclosure of algorithms, data usage practices, and seller relationships to promote transparency.

4.Establish a dedicated monitoring authority for continuous oversight of online trade activities.

“The absence of a strong regulatory mechanism has emboldened these companies to act as if they are above the law. It is essential that the Government acts swiftly to restore accountability and protect lawful trade,” Shri Khandelwal emphasized.

Reiterating the traders’ commitment to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a fair, transparent, and compliant digital economy, Shri Khandelwal assured full support from the trading community under CAIT to the Government’s efforts in ensuring a level playing field for all stakeholders in India’s retail sector.