Jewellers make hay on Akshaya Tritiya day. Using the mad rush of people for buying gold on the auspicious day which falls on April 21 (Tuesday), there are chances of hoodwinking by the jewellers resulting in loss of weight of gold purchased, warns V. Palanisamy, Inspector of Labour-cum-Deputy Controller of Legal Metrology, here on Sunday.
He told The Hindu that as per the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, Tamil Nadu Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rule, 2011, and the order of the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the user of “digital weighing scales having auto calibration facility shall maintain duly-calibrated and certified weights of F2 accuracy class (Working Standard Level) on the premises of the jewellers”.
The jewellers should ensure that their digital weighing scales should maintain weights of F2 accuracy level to the maximum capacity of the weighing instrument. This would help both the users and the consumers in ensuring transparency in transactions.
During Akshaya Tritiya last year, a joint inspection was conducted by the Labour Inspector and the Deputy Controller of Legal Metrology, and 111 jewellery traders were booked for not maintaining weights and 11 for not having electronic instruments duly verified and stamped by the authorities.
A sum of Rs. 1.30 lakh was collected from them as compounded fee for the offence.
The law stated that the weight should not include that of diamonds and precious stones at the time of sale along with ornaments. The cost of diamonds/precious stones should be shown separately, Mr. Palanisamy added.
Consumers should ensure that weighing machines were certified and stamped by the Department of Legal Metrology.
The shops should have digital weighing scales.
The consumers should verify whether the model of the electronic weighing instrument was approved by the Director of Legal Metrology by verifying the approval certificate issued by Government of India Gazette.
