NGO bats for end to consumers’ exploitation

The Consumer Movement, a voluntary non-government organisation, has urged the administration to safeguard the interests of consumers during the Diwali festival celebrations.

The NGO, in a memorandum submitted to Sub-Divisional Magistrate Krishna Pal Rajput here on Saturday, said sweets sellers across the Fazilka district were indulging in unfair practice of selling sweets by weighing the same with corrugated boxes, thereby delivering lesser quantity of sweets. The weight of the box was charged at the rates of sweets, he said.

The memorandum said all kinds of expenses incurred on putting the goods in deliverable state were to be borne by the seller as per the provisions of Sub-Section 5 of Section 36 of Sale of Goods Act, 1936.

As per the provisions of Legal Metrology Act, 2019, the sweets makers were required to deliver the quantities of the products ordered for, and they should refrain themselves by resolving deceptive methods by weighing the packing material/box along with the sweets.

Giving less quantity than asked for, inclusive of weight of packing material, is an offence under Section 30 of the Act.

Two businessmen in Ferozepur were last year fined Rs 7,000 each by the Department of Legal Metrology, documents presented by the NGO indicated.

NGO chairman Satpal Khariwal demanded a meeting of all stakeholders well ahead of the Diwali day.