Amazon, Flipkart cannot sell non-essential items, government says in revised order
The government on Sunday prohibited ecommerce platforms from selling non-essential items through the lockdown, four days after allowing the firms to sell cell phones, refrigerators and ready-made garments.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued an order excluding the non-essential items from the cart of ecommerce companies. The order said the next clause -- "Ecommerce companies. Vehicles employed by ecommerce operators will be permitted to ply with necessary permissions" -- is excluded from the rules.
The April 15 order had said ecommerce platforms were allowed to sell such items from April 20.
The reason behind reversing the order isn't known immediately. But there is a talk of some retail traders mounting strain on the government that local shops be permitted to sell non-essentials items, like ecommerce giants.
Ecommerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Bigbasket, Grofers and Netmeds are permitted to sell essential commodities such as for example food, pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
The previous order said, "Supply of essential goods is allowed, as under: All facilities in the supply chain of essential goods, whether involved with manufacturing, wholesale or retail of such goods through local stores, large offline stores or ecommerce companies should be allowed to operate, ensuring strict social distancing without any restriction on the timing of opening and closure".
A day later, Home Ministry officials said electronic stuff like cell phones, TVs, refrigerators, notebook computers, ready-made garments, stationery items for schoolchildren will be on the ecommerce platforms from April 20.
Following that directive, a few ecommerce companies explained accepting online orders.
The federal government also allowed movement of most trucks and other goods vehicles with two drivers and one helper, at the mercy of the driver carrying a valid driving license.
An empty truck or vehicle will be permitted to ply following the delivery of goods, or for picking up goods.
Truck repair shops and 'dhabas' (eateries) on highways, with a stipulated minimum distance as approved by the state and union territory authorities, will be allowed to operate.
The lockdown was initially announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 for 21 days in a bid to combat the coronavirus pandemic and later extended till May 3. Extending it, the Prime Minister on Tuesday also declared that select necessary activities will be allowed to be exposed from April 20 in identified areas of the country.
