No guidelines for online astrology platforms, Consumer Affairs Dept tells CIC

The Central Information Commission was informed that the Consumer Affairs Department has no guidelines regulating online astrology platforms. It directed the department to disclose complaint data, provide investigation details and transfer related RTI queries to other ministries

New Delhi: The Department of Consumer Affairs has informed the Central Information Commission (CIC) that it has no guidelines to regulate online astrology platforms while hearing an RTI appeal that one such portal was indulging in unfair trade practices, causing mental and financial harassment to astrologers and cheating people. The CIC directed the department to provide details of any investigation, disclose complaint figures and transfer parts of the RTI application to other ministries.

The RTI application alleged that the online astrology platform was “involved in several malpractices and unfair trade practices which are causing mental, financial and professional harassment to astrologers as well as cheating the general public.” It sought information on whether the platform had been investigated by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), the Department of Consumer Affairs or the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for fraud, cheating or violation of business ethics.

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It also sought the number of complaints received against the platform over the last three years, action taken on those complaints, details of licences or approvals required to operate such a platform and any guidelines governing online astrology or digital consultation services.

The applicant alleged that astrologers were hired in bulk but denied adequate work opportunities, made to remain online for “15 to 18 hours daily” while earning “less than 100 rupees per day”, and subjected to “unfair penalties ranging from Rs 50,000 to 1,00,000”.

The application also alleged manipulation of ratings and other internal parameters, and claimed the platform was “being misused as a chatting or dating app” where women astrologers faced “extreme mental harassment”.

During the hearing, the respondent submitted that the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) had not conducted any investigation as it functions only as a grievance resolution platform.

On being asked whether any guidelines existed for regulating e-commerce or online astrology platforms, the respondent stated that “no such guidelines exist with their department”. The Commission also asked whether the department could provide the numerical value of complaints received against the platform, to which the respondent said it would verify the records and provide the same.

Observing that “the respondent has provided partial information to the appellant”, Information Commissioner Khushwant Singh Sethi directed the department to issue a revised reply.

It ordered the respondent to “provide factual information” on any investigation, transfer the relevant queries to the CPIOs of the MCA and MeitY, provide the numerical value of complaints received and transfer the queries relating to licences, approvals and regulatory guidelines to the public authorities likely to hold the information.