Jewellers move HC against compulsory hallmarking

CHENNAI: A jewellery association has moved Madras High Court challenging a rule mandating hallmarking of gold jewellery and artefacts across country. Gold hallmarking is a purity certification which has now been made mandatory through Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, 2020, and Bureau of Indian Standards Regulations.

CJA Chennai Jewellers Association wanted court to declare the rules as ‘unconstitutional’. Since the rule permits sale of only 14, 18, and 22 karat gold, such law is violative of Article 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution, they said.

“The aim of Indian standards is that if the  ornament is sold representing to be of 22 karat, it must be of 22 karat. It can never prohibit selling gold which is more or less pure than 22 karat,” the petitioner said. Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy directed the Centre to file response by July 27.