38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, August 01, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Carry bags printed with store logo and name must be given free of cost to customers: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission II, Hyderabad [READ ORDER]

By Mathews Savio      23 February, 2021 07:04 PM      0 Comments
Carry bags printed with store logo and name must be given free of cost to customers: District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission  II, Hyderabad [READ ORDER]

In deciding a complaint filed by a 21 years old student, Baglekar Akash Kumar, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission II, Hyderabad ordered the opponent supermarket to provide the carry bags which contain the store name and logo free of cost to all customer.

The complainant made a purchase at the store of the opposing-party in June 2019, the bill amount charged by the store included Rs. 3 for the plastic carry bags provided. The bag had the name and logo of the supermarket.

The complainant, as party-in-person, argued that charging a price for the carry bags on which the stores name and logo are printed amounts to using the customers as advertisement agents at the cost of the consumer himself. Such a practice was argued to amount to an Unfair-trade practice under Section -2 (1) (r) of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.

A similar case decided by the Chandigarh Consumer Court where Bata company was asked not to use its customers as advertisement agents were quoted by the complainant to support his argument.

The opposing-party, the supermarket, on its part argued that the complainant had a choice to buy or not to buy the carry bag and was in no way forced by the store. Further, it was argued that the store was facilitating the consumer by providing them with quality plastic carry bags meeting the necessary standards in compliance with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2011 as amended in 2018. There was no restriction imposed on the consumer from bringing his carry bag. 

The counsel arguing for the Super-market contented that the demand for payment for providing plastic bags is a mandate on the store under the Plastic Management Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2018. The practice embodies the 'polluter-pays' principle by making the customer pay if he is not taking the responsibility of bringing reusable bags. It aims to discourage the indiscriminate use of plastic bags. The store in its part is actively encouraging the customers to carry with them reusable bags by prominently displaying signs in the store to that effect.

The complainant was argued to be attempting to harassing the opposite party by bringing false claims of material loss, damage, mental agony and physical hardship. 

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission after hearing both sides held that the practice of charging the customers at the cash counter for the carry bags without display of its price and specification affects the consumers right to make an informed choice. The Commission also held that charging the customers for the carry bags containing store logo and name amounts to unfair trade practice as the customer is used as a tool for advertising without his consent and at his own expense.

The Commission in its order directed the store to give free carry bags to all customers if printed with the store logo and name. Also, to pay back the Rs. 3 charged from the complainant along with Rs. 15,000 as compensation for being used as an advertising tool and Rs. 1500 as cost of the proceeding.

The Commission in its order also made it clear that stores can charge for the plastic carry bags if it does not contain the store name and logo. 

 

[READ ORDER]



Share this article:



Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

sc-directs-telangana-speaker-to-decide-disqualification-petitions
Trending Judiciary
SC directs Telangana Speaker to decide disqualification petitions against 10 rebel BRS MLAs within 3 months [Read Order]

SC orders Telangana Speaker to decide disqualification pleas against 10 rebel BRS MLAs within 3 months, stressing swift action on political defections.

31 July, 2025 04:58 PM

TOP STORIES

delhi-govt-files-plea-in-sc-to-recall-2018-ban-on-older-vehicles
Trending Judiciary
Delhi govt files plea in SC to recall 2018 ban on older vehicles

Delhi govt moves SC to recall 2018 ban on 10-yr-old diesel, 15-yr-old petrol vehicles, citing lack of data and need for emission-based policy.

26 July, 2025 05:17 PM
sc-issues-guidelines-to-be-implemented-as-law-to-prevent-students-suicides
Trending Judiciary
SC issues guidelines to be implemented as law to prevent students suicides [Read Judgment]

SC issues 15-point guidelines to prevent student suicides; directs states to notify rules for coaching centres, mental health support, and monitoring.

26 July, 2025 05:30 PM
sc-lawyers-body-urges-cji-to-prohibit-advocates-creating-video-reels-in-premises-sharing-of-court-proceedings-clips
Trending Legal Insiders
SC lawyers body urges CJI to prohibit advocates creating video reels in premises; sharing of court proceedings clips [Read Letter]

SC lawyers urge CJI to ban video reels, photos & court clip sharing; say such acts breach Bar rules, risk security & distort judicial proceedings.

26 July, 2025 05:44 PM
delay-in-assent-to-bills-sc-allows-kerala-to-withdraw-pleas-against-state-guv
Trending Judiciary
Delay in assent to bills: SC allows Kerala to withdraw pleas against state Govt

SC allows Kerala govt to withdraw pleas against Governor over delay in bill assent, citing Tamil Nadu verdict; Centre opposed plea withdrawal.

26 July, 2025 05:52 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email