Management of city mall booked

Officials of the Legal Metrology Department on Tuesday conducted surprise checks at a mall in Begumpet here and booked the management for violations under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules of 2012.

Assistant Controller of Legal Metrology R. G. Bhasker Reddy said 20 cases were registered against the management of Lifestyle Mall.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Reddy said, “We found several irregularities. While some price tags were smudged, others had no price tags at all. In case of imported goods, the date of import was not mentioned.”

Increasing awareness

Mr. Reddy clarified that the department has not received specific complaints against the mall management. The raids, he said, are a part of the department’s efforts to protect consumers.

Controller of Legal Metrology Akun Sabharwal said the ‘special raids’ are a continuation of the department’s enforcement drive. “We are focusing, of course, on enforcement of rules, but also on increasing awareness. These raids will continue at other places as well,” he said.

Last week, 16 teams of the department raided four malls – GVK One in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad Central in Panjagutta, Forum Sujana Mall in Kukatpally and Inorbit Mall in Madhapur – and found violations of the Packaged Commodities Rules of 2012.

As many as 102 cases were booked and goods valued at ₹72 lakh were seized.