Consumer durables can be bought online from April 20

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, April 16

The clarification from a senior official of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) came a day after Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla issued revised guidelines for the extended lockdown period till May 3.

Electronic items such as the mobile phones, TVs, laptops would be available on e-commerce platforms from April 20, the official said.

He, however, made it clear delivery vans of e-commerce companies would need permission from authorities for plying on the roads.

According to Wednesday’s guidelines, commercial and private establishments were allowed to operate during the extended lockdown from April 20. “Vehicles used by e-commerce operators will be allowed to ply with necessary permissions,” the MHA had said. The previous MHA notifications had specifically said e-commerce platforms were allowed to sell only essential goods such as food, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. The guidelines released on Wednesday did not classify essential and non-essential items.

The move is being viewed as an attempt by the government to revive industrial and commercial activities that had been stalled due to the lockdown since March 25, as a large number of people are engaged in the logistics and delivery works of such e-commerce entities.

The guidelines also said, “All facilities in the supply chain of essential goods, whether involved in manufacturing, wholesale or retail of such goods through local stores, large brick and mortar stores or e-commerce companies should be allowed to operate, ensuring strict social distancing without any restriction on their timing of opening and closure.”

The lockdown was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 for 21 days which was later extended till May 3 to combat the virus.