5,700 complaints agnst sale of bottled water above MRP: Paswan

About 5,700 complaints have been received regarding sale of bottled water and other items above the Maximum Reserve Price (MRP) by the Centre, which has written to the states on the issue but not got any response from them, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today.
The government plans to bring a new Consumer Protection legislation shortly, he said in the Rajya Sabha, adding that it would be sent to the Cabinet and then brought to Parliament.
Noting that the government has received 5,698 such complaints, the Consumer Affairs Minister in such cases, action is taken by state governments. "We have written to them on four instances but none of the states have yet provided a response."

Maintaining that charging above the MRP was "cheating", Paswan said he had recently held a meeting on the issue and asked the officials to look at these issues.
The minister however mentioned that there was a complaint against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which took prompt action and barred such practice.
During the Question Hour, members raised concern over such "cheating" of the consumers as the prices of items like bottled water change with the location, especially in malls and airports.

Congress member Rajeev Shukla said that a bottle worth Rs 10 was sold for Rs 50 in airlines and the Aviation Ministry comes under the Centre. He sought to know if any changes in the existing laws are being planned.

Paswan said a draft Bill had earlier been sent to a Parliamentary Standing Committee which had recommended a large number of changes in it. When over 80 amendments were suggested in the draft to the Law Ministry, the government decided to formulate a new Bill instead.
He was asked whether it was felt that there is a need to amend the existing legislations to penalise shop owners who sell products above the MRP.
Paswan said the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the related rules provide for penal provisions.