GUWAHATI: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Guwahati Branch Office, conducted a search and seizure operation at an unauthorised hallmarking centre in Agia, Goalpara, on August 7, seizing equipment and jewellery allegedly used for fake hallmarking. The raid was conducted at the premises of M/s Paul Hallmarking Centre following several complaints regarding alleged violations of the BIS Act, 2016.
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During the operation, BIS officials found that the establishment was functioning as an unauthorised Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) and was allegedly involved in illegal hallmarking activities. A laser marking machine, a PVC card printer, CCTV footage records, 27 PVC cards bearing spurious BIS logos and 15.180 grams of jewellery carrying fake hallmarking were seized.
Gold jewellery is covered under the mandatory hallmarking order notified by the Government of India. The BIS has initiated action against those responsible for the alleged violation of Section 14(6) of the BIS Act, 2016. The provision bars unauthorised testing and marking or assaying and hallmarking centres from using, affixing, embossing, engraving, printing or otherwise applying the BIS Standard Mark, including the Hallmark, or any imitation of it, on notified goods.
Violation of the provision is punishable with imprisonment for up to one year, or a fine of not less than Rs 1 lakh and up to five times the value of the goods or articles involved, or both. The BIS said it conducts search and seizure operations whenever information regarding misuse of the BIS Standard Mark or Hallmark is received and verified, with the objective of protecting consumers from deception and possible safety hazards.
The BIS has urged citizens to report the sale of mandatory products without BIS certification or any misuse of the ISI Mark.