Cases booked against gold retailers in Kerala

KOCHI: The legal metrology department has registered cases against 20 jewellery shops in Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad districts for not mentioning the fineness of gold in the bills provided to customers. The department officials examined various jewellery shops in Ernakulam district on Thursday and cases were filed against five shops.    The department made such an examination for the first time in the state. R Rammohan, deputy controller of legal metrology, central zone, said mentioning of the degree of fineness of gold in the receipt is mandatory. The price of the gold has to be fixed based on the degree of the fineness of the gold.

Rammohan said majority of the shops are not following the norms and cases were registered against the owners of these shops. Cases were registered for violation of Rule 10 of Kerala Legal Metrology Act, he added. The department will examine more shops in coming days. Sources said fine would be imposed on the owners for the offence and prosecution measures will be initiated if the same offence is repeated.