Officials of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Guwahati Branch Office, have uncovered an illegal hallmarking operation in Guwahati and seized equipment allegedly used for issuing counterfeit gold hallmarks.
The raid was conducted on June 18 at M/s Ganesh Hallmarking Centre on Col. J. Ali Road in Lakhtokia following a discreet investigation launched on June 3 into suspected violations of the BIS Act, 2016.
According to BIS, the establishment was operating as an unauthorized Assaying and Hallmarking Centre (AHC) and was allegedly involved in unlawful hallmarking activities. During the search, officials found that the firm had been using a laser marking machine to stamp jewellery without authorization and was issuing counterfeit gold hallmarks bearing fake BIS logos.
The laser marking machine used in the operation was sealed, while spurious hallmarking materials were seized from the premises.
BIS stated that gold jewellery comes under the mandatory hallmarking regime notified by the Government of India, making unauthorized hallmarking a serious breach of the law. Proceedings are being initiated against those involved under Section 14(6) of the BIS Act, 2016.
Under the Act, the offence is punishable with imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of not less than ₹1 lakh and up to five times the value of the goods involved, or both.
The BIS Act prohibits any testing, marking, assaying or hallmarking centre that is not recognized by BIS from using, affixing, engraving, embossing, printing or applying the Standard Mark, including the BIS Hallmark, or any imitation of it on notified products. The law also bars unauthorized entities from making claims relating to BIS hallmarking through advertisements, promotional campaigns or sales literature.
BIS officials said the organization regularly carries out raids and enforcement operations whenever credible information regarding the misuse of certification marks is received and verified. Such actions are aimed at protecting consumers from fraud and ensuring the quality and authenticity of products available in the market.
The Bureau has also appealed to consumers to remain vigilant and report cases involving the sale of mandatory products without BIS certification or instances of misuse of the ISI Mark and BIS Hallmark.
