The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Union Government to hear the views of all stakeholders while framing a policy on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the multi-brand retail sector. The Court has asked the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to send its representation to the Centre in this regard.
Disposing of a writ petition moved by CAIT, which opposed FDI in multi-brand retail and e-commerce, the Vacation Bench of Justice Mukta Gupta said the plea could be treated by the Centre as a representation of the traders’ body. The Bench said the petition had not clarified how the CAIT was being affected by the FDI policy and asked it to prepare a fresh representation, which has to be sent to the Centre within a week.
“It would be appropriate that CAIT is given an opportunity to be heard,” observed the Court while adding that the views of all stakeholders must be considered while framing a policy on an important matter.
The Union Government’s counsel said the petition could be treated as a representation as was done in the case of the Retailers’ Association of India that sought parity with e-commerce sites on May 20. The Court had directed the Centre to consider the plea and take a decision within four months.
In its petition, CAIT alleged that the current policy of 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail was creating an “uneven playing field”.
The Court has asked the Confederation of All India Traders to send a representation to the Centre
