Srinagar
Taking cognizance of a consumer complaint against Saint Joseph’s School Baramulla and Valley Book Shop Baramulla, Legal Metrology Department (LMD) Baramulla on Monday imposed a fine of Rs. 20000 on the school management and the book Shop for not complying with the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 in the sale of stationery items.
The school was found resorting to the restrictive trade practice by keeping the booklist available at a single bookshop only.
A team of LMD headed by the Assistant Controller Baramulla conducted an inspection of Saint Joseph’s School and the Valley Book Shop in Baramulla for verifying the contents of the consumer complaint. During the inspection, it was found that the school management had flashed an SMS to the guardians of students informing them that the books will remain available from a particular bookshop. Further, the stationary packages offered for sale by the bookshop were found to be lacking the statutory labeling requirements.
LMD officer Baramulla Shah Gazi Suhaib booked a case against the management of the institution and the bookshop. Subsequently, Assistant Controller Baramulla took up the matter with the concerned which in turn admitted to the lapse and requested for compounding of the offence. Ultimately, keeping in view the fact that the school management has now kept the booklist available at four bookshops and flashed an SMS in this respect thereby rectifying the lapse of restrictive trade practice, Assistant Controller Baramulla imposed a fine of Rs 20000 in the instant case.
