The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has slapped JioMart, a subsidiary of Reliance Retail, with a penalty of Rs 1 lakh for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices after the e-commerce platform listed and facilitated the sale of walkie-talkies on its platform without mandatory disclosures.
In an order dated November 21, the regulator directed the company not to list or sell walkie-talkies or any product on its platform in the future that either requires a wireless operating licence or prior approval or certification from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing.
Further, JioMart has been ordered to submit a compliance report within 15 days of receipt of the order.
The action comes months after the CCPA notified the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment Including Walkie-Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025.
What Did the CCPA Finding Reveal?
CCPA prima facie observed that JioMart did not provide “details of the operating frequency range of the walkie-talkies sold on the platform, making it difficult for users to determine whether the product fell under the license-exempt or license-required category”.
“Through such listings and advertisements, JioMart enticed users to purchase these devices while deliberately concealing important information, thereby manipulating informed decision-making,” the CCPA said.
Overall, the regulator found that 58 walkie-talkies were ordered by customers on its platform through various sellers, where JioMart failed to provide the following details:
- Frequency specifications and any licensing information displayed on the listings.
- Whether it verified that these products received Equipment Type Approval (ETA) certification from the WPC.
What Laws Did JioMart Violate?
In India, the use of walkie-talkies is regulated under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933. The Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018, provide guidelines and procedures for obtaining a walkie-talkie license, and also list devices exempt from licensing requirements.
While personal mobile radios that operate in the frequency range of 446.0-446.2 MHz (megahertz) are exempt from the requirement of a licence, ETA certification is mandatory for any person listing, manufacturing, or selling wireless equipment in that frequency range in India.
Non-Disclosure & Misleading Information: In its probe, the CCPA Director General (Investigation) found that JioMart listed walkie-talkie devices on its platform without necessary disclosures on licensing, frequency range, or proof of certification from the WPC or the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), thereby violating consumer rights under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Regulatory Violations: The devices were also found to be operating outside the license-exempt frequency threshold….
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