Jammu, March 29: The Legal Metrology Enforcement Unit, Jammu, Saturday imposed a penalty of Rs 1.80 lakh on a West Bengal-based e-commerce platform for delivering a cosmetic healthcare product with only 50 per cent of the declared net quantity.
The action was initiated following a written complaint lodged with the Controller, alleging a discrep-ancy in the pre-packaged commodity supplied through the platform. A subsequent inquiry and quantity measurement test confirmed the shortfall, constituting a serious violation of consumer rights and contravening key provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
An official statement said that upon receiving a notice from the department, the defaulting firm re-funded the full amount to the aggrieved customer. The company acknowledged its violation and ap-plied for departmental compounding—a legal remedy under the Act. The case was subsequently compounded, and a penalty of Rs 1,80,000 was imposed, with the firm committing to immediate compliance with packaging regulations and net quantity standards.
In an official statement, Controller Legal Metrology J&K, Anuradha Gupta, reaffirmed the depart-ment’s dedication to consumer protection and fair-trade practices, particularly within the rapidly growing e-commerce sector. She stressed that the department would continue rigorous inspections and enforcement actions to uphold regulatory compliance. She also underscored the importance of verifiable product information and accurate net quantity declarations, particularly for pre-packaged commodities sold online, to safeguard consumers from deception and misleading sales practices.
“Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, manufacturers, packers, import-ers, suppliers, and sellers are legally bound to ensure consumers receive the precise quantity they purchase. E-commerce platforms must also provide clear and accurate online information, including details of the manufacturer/packer/importer, country of origin (for imported products), generic name of the commodity, Maximum Retail Price (MRP), net quantity, Unit Sale Price (USP), and cus-tomer care details (name, address, contact number, and email of a responsible entity). “These decla-rations are essential for preventing fraud and ensuring transparency in online transactions,” the statement said. “The Legal Metrology Department has urged consumers to remain vigilant while making online purchases and to report any discrepancies or grievances to the department for prompt redressal.”
