 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 29: The Legal Metrology Department has intensified enforcement across the Union Territory, including strict action on e-commerce and digital platforms.
Focused inspections and regulatory checks have led to the detection of multiple violations under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, resulting in penalties amounting to lakhs of rupees and reinforcing strong consumer protection and fair trade practices.
The Department adopted a dual-track enforcement strategy covering both offline markets and online/e-commerce platforms. Violations were detected, booked and disposed of strictly in accordance with the law, reaffirming the Department's firm commitment to transparency, accuracy and consumer protection.
In Samba district, a major cosmetic seller operating through a leading e-commerce platform was booked for misleading and contradictory net quantity declarations on an online-listed product; the entity admitted the lapse and the case was compounded at the departmental level on payment of Rs 1,00,000, with the product delisted and listings corrected. Two additional cases involving leading distilleries were also compounded on payment of Rs 35,000 each.
Similarly, enforcement action was taken against two major healthcare companies in Kulgam district and the cases were compounded on payment of Rs 2,75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively, underlining strict scrutiny in sectors affecting public health.
Likewise, in Udhampur district, a leading hardware manufacturer based in New Delhi was booked under various relevant Sections of the Act and the case was compounded on payment of Rs 1,00,000. The Department has reiterated that enforcement drives will continue across both physical and digital marketplaces and all manufacturers, packers, importers, distributors and sellers are advised to ensure strict statutory compliance, failing which legal action shall follow.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Chamber of Commerce Jammu led by its President, Arun Gupta, met the Controller and raised issues concerning small traders, particularly challenges arising from imported products, violations of Packaged Commodities Rules and cases where liability falls upon shopkeepers due to improper importer address and incomplete statutory declarations.
The delegation emphasized the need for structured awareness programmes for trader stakeholders in Jammu. The Controller heard the delegation in detail and assured full cooperation and coordinated action going forward. He stated that collaborative engagement between the Department and trade bodies will be strengthened in the best interest of consumers while also supporting genuine traders. Other officers of the Department, including Joint Controller Legal Metrology Jammu and Assistant Controller Legal Metrology Samba, were also present during the interaction.
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