No Supply Of Non-Essential Goods By E-Commerce During Lockdown : MHA Revises Guidelines

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued a revised notification on Sunday to exclude e-commerce from list of activities permissible after April 20.

This means that the supply of non-essential goods by e-commerce will remain prohibited during the period of extended lockdown till May 3.

Delivery of essential goods such as foods, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment through E-Commerce was in any case permissible as per the original set of guidelines issued on March 24.

On April 15, the MHA issued a revised set of guidelines, enumerating a list of activities which are permissible by States/UTs in their respective areas after April 20 based on a review of COVID-19 situation.

In that list, '"E-Commerce Companies" was included, without making any qualification regarding essential services.

"Vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be allowed to ply with necessary permission", the revised guidelines issued on April 15 had stated.

This entry has been excluded in the fresh notification issued on Sunday.