Srinagar, April 20: In a firm step to safeguard consumer interests, the Legal Metrology Department has imposed a penalty of Rs 1.5 lakh on a flour mill manufacturer for distributing underweight animal feed in Srinagar markets.
During a routine inspection, officials discovered alarming discrepancies in packaged feed bags labelled as 25 kg—some of which were found to be nearly 400 grams short. Prompt action was taken under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, resulting in the seizure of the underweight stock. The manufacturer has acknowledged the violation and submitted a written undertaking to recall the affected products from the market as a corrective measure and to ensure regulatory compliance.
This marks the second such violation in recent weeks. Just last week, a case was registered against an edible oil company for selling tins that were underfilled by 375 ml compared to the declared volume.
“Consumers place their trust in product labelling—it is our responsibility to uphold that trust,” stated Anuradha Gupta, Controller of Legal Metrology. She reaffirmed the department’s zero-tolerance policy towards non-compliance and directed field officers to take swift and stringent action against offenders. Consumers were urged to remain vigilant, check the declared weights on packaging and use certified weighing machines available with sellers to verify accuracy. In case of discrepancies or non-cooperation from traders, complaints should be promptly reported to the department. The department has further warned all manufacturers and traders to adhere strictly to legal standards or face penalties and legal consequences.
