Under which condition can a shopkeeper be held strictly liable to an invitee?

A shopkeeper can be held strictly liable to an invitee when the product was defective and caused harm. This principle is rooted in strict liability in tort law, which holds a party responsible for damages or injury caused by their product, regardless of fault or negligence.

In the context of a shopkeeper and invitee relationship, if a product sold by the shopkeeper is found to have a defect—whether it is a design flaw, a manufacturing defect, or an inadequate warning about the product's use—and that defect leads to injury or harm to the invitee, the shopkeeper can be held liable. This liability arises because the law seeks to protect consumers and ensure that those who market goods take full responsibility for the safety of the products they sell.

This principle operates independently of the shopkeeper's conduct or knowledge about the defect, emphasizing consumer protection and the responsibilities of businesses in distributing safe products.