Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh), August 19 (PTI) The Vijayawada Branch of the BIS conducted a search and seizure operation at a hallmarking and assaying centre in Kadapa on Wednesday and seized 72.7 grams of gold jewellery without mandatory Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) and bearing spurious BIS markings.
During the raid Bureau of Indian Standards also seized a laser marking machine allegedly used to imprint counterfeit BIS hallmarks.
“The Vijayawada Branch of BIS conducted a search and seizure operation at a hallmarking and assaying centre in Kadapa and seized 72.71 grams of gold jewellery that did not bear the mandatory HUID and carried spurious BIS markings,” BIS Vijayawada director Prem Sajani Patnala said in a release.
The seized gold jewellery was found without the mandatory HUID and was bearing spurious markings, including the BIS logo and fineness.
In addition, the BIS team seized a laser marking machine used to imprint counterfeit BIS hallmarks without any valid recognition, a computer system and a pen drive loaded with fake BIS markings.
Patnala said the seizure established a clear violation of the compulsory hallmarking provisions under the BIS Act, 2016.
She noted that the violation under Section 14 (6) of the BIS Act, 2016, can attract imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of not less than Rs 1 lakh for the first contravention.
The fine may extend up to five times the value of the goods involved in the violation, she said, adding that the offence is cognizable and may also attract imprisonment up to one year, or both fine and imprisonment, depending on the severity and recurrence.
Patnala urged consumers to verify the authenticity of hallmarked gold ornaments by entering the HUID number on the BIS Care mobile application.
She also asked consumers to report misuse of BIS marks, including hallmark, ISI and CRS marks, through the BIS Care app, assuring that the identities of whistle-blowers would be kept confidential.
Patnala said action would be initiated under Section 29 of the BIS Act, 2016, for violation of Section 14(6) of the Act. PTI MS SA
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