Terms of Use

Effective 19 August 2026 · Local demonstration build

1. What Second Shelf is (and isn't)

Second Shelf is a notice board with superpowers: a campus-exclusive platform where verified students list, discover, and arrange to buy, sell, rent, exchange or give away items. Every transaction happens directly between students, in person. The platform never holds your money, never takes custody of items, is not a party to any sale or rental, and cannot reverse UPI payments. We are an intermediary under the Information Technology Act, 2000.

2. Who can join

  • You must be a current student (or staff member) of a supported campus, verified via college email, DigiLocker document, or ID review.
  • You must be 18 or older.
  • One account per person. Verification is re-checked each academic year.

3. Your responsibilities

  • List only items you own and may legally sell, and describe them honestly.
  • Nothing on the prohibited-items list.
  • Meet at designated safe spots; inspect before paying; pay directly (cash/your own UPI).
  • Rentals are direct bailment agreements between students. The rental agreement, deposit record and condition photos exist to make disputes provable. They do not make the platform a guarantor.
  • No harassment, spam, price manipulation or off-platform payment tricks.

4. Moderation & enforcement

Listings are screened automatically and by student moderators. We may remove listings, freeze rental privileges during disputes, and suspend accounts for policy violations. Moderator mediation of disputes is a good-faith community service, not arbitration or legal advice.

5. Grievances

Grievance officer: grievance@secondshelf.local. Complaints are acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within 15 days (consumer-protection matters: within one month), per the IT Rules 2021 and Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules 2020.

6. Liability

To the extent permitted by law, the platform is not liable for the condition of items, the conduct of users, or losses arising from transactions between users. Dishonest non-return of a rented item may constitute criminal breach of trust (BNS s.316); we will provide the records (agreement, chat, photos) to campus authorities or police on lawful request.