Baramulla, Sep 12 (KNS): Continuing its anti-profiteering drive in the District, Legal Metrology Department Baramulla booked a leading paints Nerolac manufacturer and seller today in Sopore area of the District for violating provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the rules made there under. The manufacturing/ Marketting Company had increased the maximum retail price (MRP) of one of its products against the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act/ rules subsequent to the Goods & Services Tax (GST) reduction announced by the Government recently.
The product in question was bearing an original MRP of Rs. 170 while it was revised to Rs. 175 following GST reduction thereby increasing its MRP by Rs. 5 per package. Remember, GST of paints and varnishes has been reduced from 28% to 18% in July, 2018. Further,
While talking to KNS, Inspector of Legal Meteorology Department said that manufacturers and dealers are required to reduce the MRP of their packaged goods under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 in view of the tax reduction so that the benefit of tax reduction is passed on to the consumers. However, some of the traders are not passing on the reduced tax benefits to consumers either out of ignorance or deliberately on purpose. In the instant case, the manufacturer and the seller have increased MRP of its product after GST reduction instead of decreasing it.
He added that Traders of District Baramulla are requested to check the list of goods on which GST has been reduced recently and make sure that the MRP of the said goods are revised and that they are sold at the revised lower MRP only to the consumers so that the benefits of GST reduction reach the consumers.
Any consumer grievance in this regard may be brought into notice of the Department at email ID: aclmbaramulla@gmail.com for speedy redress. (KNS)