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ALL those jewellers who deceive or defraud clients on the purity of gold jewellery had better beware. If they are hauled up before the court, they may well end up paying not just the cost of the ornament, but also compensation, and even punitive damages to the customer. And, of course, there is also the bad publicity that goes with such a case. In fact, jewellers would do well to get their jewellery hallmarked and also specify in the bill that they issue, the correct carat value.
In January this year, while upholding a case against a jeweller decided by the Madhya Pradesh state consumer disputes redressal commission, the national consumer disputes redressal commission commented: "We are constrained to observe, however, that the practice of selling ornaments of gold and or other precious metals and stones without proper hallmarking and warranty regarding the levels of purity is, unfortunately, a widely prevalent malpractice across the entire country. Clearly, such practices need to be curbed with a heavy hand. But for the fact that the complainant has not approached this commission with a cross revision petition, we would have been inclined to impose punitive damages on this petitioner for indulging in such a practice". The complaint filed by Harish Misra, district president, Akhil Bharatiya Upbhokta Congress, Sidhi district, Madhya Pradesh, alleged that the chain and the locket (mangal sutra) purchased locally for Rs 14,016 from Mohite Ornament House was not of the purity promised by the jeweller. The state commission, after getting the jewellery tested for its purity at the MMTC assaying centre, directed the jeweller in its order of 2008 to take back the jewellery and pay the consumer Rs 33,000 and costs of Rs 5,000. In response to the revision petition filed by the jeweller, arguing that he had not promised 24 carats purity, the national commission examined the facts of the case afresh. Said the commission: " In the test by MMTC Ltd, the purity of the gold in the locket of the ornament was found to be 760.6, while that of the chain was 885.8. Therefore, the purity of the gold in the ornament was much below the promised purity of 24 carats". Observing that the level of purity of gold in the mangal sutra sold by the petitioner to the complainant was much below even 22 carats, the national commission dismissed the petition of the jeweller (RP No 3688 of 2008). So if you suspect that the gold jewellery sold to you is not of the carat value promised by the jeweller, you can get it tested at any of the gold assaying centres, and if your suspicion is confirmed, then you can well take the jeweller to court. Only make sure that you have the required proof of purchase—a cash receipt with details of the jewellery and its carat value. Of course, if you buy hallmarked jewellery, then you don't have this problem—the hallmarking ensures that you get the purity that you are promised at the time of sale. In fact this case highlights the importance of buying hallmarked jewellery. If you go on to the website of the Bureau of Indian Standards, you can get a list of jewellers who sell hallmarked jewellery in your city. And when you do buy the hallmarked jewellery, be sure to ask for a magnifying glass and look for the hallmarking and purity or fineness signs on the jewellery. Remember, hallmarking is provided to even 18 carat or 14 carat jewellery, So do check the fineness specified on the hallmarked jewellery. And remember to always get a receipt with the description of the jewellery and its purity.
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