Karnataka seeks Centre’s nod for legal metrology enforcement rules

The Karnataka government has sought the Centre’s permission to bring in amendments to Karnataka Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules 2011, especially pertaining to gold/sliver trade.

“This amendment is being brought to curb malpractices in gold and silver trade. At present, both hallmarking and non-hallmarking jewellery and ornaments are being sold to consumers without mentioning the purity/fineness,” Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Dinesh Gundu Rao told Business Line .

In recent years, there has been a phenomenal growth in the bullion trade because of aggressive sales promotion by the World Gold Council (WGC) during festivals such as Akshya Trithiya and Dhantheras.

“In order to protect the consumers, regulation is required to control the traders from possible cheating. Since it comes under concurrent list, we have sought the Centre’s permission to amend the rules,” he added.

The amended rules will make it mandatory to mention the purity of gold in karat and that of precious stones in carat on cash receipts along with their net weight.

To curb cheating on weight, the department is equipped with electronic balances with an accuracy of 0.01 mg to calibrate the weights, measures and weighing instruments used by the industry for the purpose of ISO certification.

“A similar legislation has been adopted in Andhra Pradesh, but we have brought in penal action on such malpractice,” said the Minister.

During the financial year 2014-15, Legal Metrology Department has carried out 1.37 lakh inspections in the State and 31,400 cases were registered.

Compounding fees collected was to the tune of ₹6.78 crore. The department also collected verification fees of ₹17.82 crore.

The department in order to digitise all its activities has developed software named E-mapan.

Dinesh Rao said that under the project, the department, which was carrying out manual verification and stamping certificates of its activities, will be digitised.

Activities such as weights and measures, issuing and renewing the licences of manufacturers, dealers and repairers, issuing packaged commodities registration certificates, conducting inspection to detect violation of legal metrology laws, booking cases and initiating legal action will be included under E-mapan.

SR Venkatesh, Controller of Legal Metrology Department, said, “The adoption of the new system will see considerable savings in stationery, storage of records and man-hours to maintain voluminous records.”

The adoption of E-mapan will help in uniformity of work procedures throughout the State and also help the department redress grievances in a time-bound manner, he added.

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