Lok Sabha Question No. 2084 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-31
Subject: Checking of Frauds in Gold Jewellers
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RANJANBEN BHATT

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2084

TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2018

## CHECKING OF FRAUDS IN GOLD JEWELLERS

2084.   SHRIMATI RANJANBEN BHATT:

(OIH)

## Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether putting a check on the fraudulent practices being done with regard to the purity of gold jewellery is under active consideration of the Government;
- (b) if so, whether any steps have been taken in this regard;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d) : Yes Madam, to protect the consumer interest with respect to the purity of hallmarked jewellery, market  surveillance  of  registered  jewellers  is  being  regularly  carried  out  during  which  samples  of hallmarked jewellery are drawn from the BIS registered jewellers. These samples of hallmarked jewellery are  tested  at  BIS  referral  assay  laboratory  at  Chennai  and  Central  Laboratory,  Sahibabad,  Ghaziabad against  the  marked  purity  on  the  article.  Monitoring  of  performance  of  the  Assaying  &  Hallmarking (A&H) Centres is also regularly done by carrying out surprise surveillance audits of the A&H Centre.

Based  on  the  result  of  the  audits  and  samples  drawn  (if  shortage  of  purity  is  observed) appropriate action against A&H Centre and Jeweller is taken which is as under:

- (i) Against A&H Centre:  imposition of suspension of hallmarking/, de-recognition of the A&H Centre
- (ii) Against registered jeweller:  cancellation of the registration and payment of compensation by the jeweller.

The  details  with  respect  to  surveillance  of  registered  jewellers  and  A&H  Centres  carried  out during the last two years and current year up to 25 June 2018 are as under:

|                               | Market Surveillance of registered Jewellers   | Market Surveillance of registered Jewellers   | Monitoring of performance of the A&HCentres   | Monitoring of performance of the A&HCentres   | Monitoring of performance of the A&HCentres   |
|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Year                          | Sample Drawn for testing                      | Jeweller registrations cancelled              | Audits of A&H Centre                          | A&H Centre put under Stop Marking             | A&H Centre derecognized                       |
| 2016-17                       | 3063                                          | 49                                            | 126                                           | 85                                            | 72                                            |
| 2017-18                       | 4438                                          | 80                                            | 336                                           | 87                                            | 38                                            |
| 2018-19 (Up to 25 th June 18) | 503                                           | 9                                             | 25                                            | 24                                            | 3                                             |