The Supreme Court of India has asked the Central government and all states to give their response within four weeks on a plea that demands the "right to know" for consumers. This means that customers should have full information not only about the product but also about the people who sell it.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued this notice on Monday. The petition was filed by lawyer and politician Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.

In the plea, Upadhyay said that the "right to know" is very important for customers. It helps them make better choices and also protects them from unfair sellers. The petition said it is necessary for all distributors, traders, and shop owners to show important details like their name, address, phone number, registration, and number of workers. This information should be written in bold letters on a board at the shop's entrance so that everyone can see it clearly.

"The right to know helps consumers avoid falling prey to a fraudulent or deceptive distributor, dealer, trader, seller, or shop owner, who might misrepresent a product/service or disappear after a sale, purchase, and money transaction," the petition stated.

The plea added that if a customer faces any problem with a product or service, they must know the seller’s details to file a complaint or ask for help from the consumer courts.

"When a distributor, dealer, trader, seller, and shop owner are transparent about their details, it fosters a fair and competitive market where consumers can make informed choices," the plea further added.

The petition also said that the consumer should know not only the quality and expiry of the product but also who is selling it. This can stop people from being cheated and will increase trust in the market.

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