Kollam: Gold merchants protested against the BIS for allegedly confiscating 2.5 kilograms of gold from a licensed shop without citing any grounds. The jewellery owner has also not been given any proof for the gold taken by the authorities.
On May 17, BIS authorities had inspected into a jewellery shop in Kesavadasapuram in Thiruvananthapuram and confiscated about 2.5 kg of gold ornaments from the shop on the allegation that it was a non-licensed jewellery shop under BIS hallmarking.
“The jewellery group chain having outlets in various other parts of the State has a valid licence. They confiscated the gold but have not given seizure the mahassar and chargesheet. It is not mandatory that hallmarking licence should be procured for gold sales,” alleged S. Abdul Nasar, state treasurer of the all Kerala gold and silver merchants association. “The outlet is functioning with proper licences from the sales tax department and those from the concerned local bodies. When contacted, the BIS head in Kochi directed the group to procure an order from the Court. The authorities have thus challenged the livelihood of the trader,” he added.
In petitions filed before the Minister for Consumer Affairs and BIS director general, it has been alleged that the requests and enquiries with BIS Kerala authorities were unanswered. The association has also warned that it will conduct protests in front of the BIS Kochi centre if the issue is not sorted out immediately.
