KULGAM: In a significant move towards safeguarding consumer rights and ensuring strict enforcement of regulatory standards, Legal Metrology Department (LMD), Kulgam, has imposed a penalty amounting to Rs1.55 lakh on various agrochemical entities for violations of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 and other relevant provisions under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
The enforcement drive was carried out on the instructions of Anuradha Gupta, Controller, Legal Metrology Department J&K.
During routine market inspections conducted by the inspection team of the department, serious discrepancies were detected with regard to mandatory declarations on packaged commodities, including agrochemical products. The violations primarily pertained to non-compliance with statutory requirements such as incorrect labeling, absence of manufacturing details, and non-declaration of net quantity, among others.
Following the detection of these irregularities, cases were formally booked, and the concerned agrochemical entities subsequently approached the department with applications seeking compounding of the offences. After following the due process of law, a penalty of Rs1.55 lakh was realised from the erring entities in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act.
The department urges all manufacturers, packers, and traders to strictly adhere to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules to avoid penal action. Consumers are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any discrepancies or violations in packaged products to the department for timely redressal.