Dealer sold a machine-made carpet as a handmade product for Rs 2.5 lakh.
Dir Handicrafts, Handloom (H&H) issues orders under Sections 6 & 7 of J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1978.
A criminal case has been ordered against the seller for defrauding a tourist
Srinagar: Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, has taken significant action against The Kashmir Art Bazaar in Tangmar for engaging in unfair trade practices that jeopardize the integrity of the region’s handicraft industry.
The showroom was blacklisted and deregistered after it was found guilty of selling a machine-made carpet for ₹2.55 lakh, falsely representing it as a hand-knotted, GI-certified product. This fraudulent activity involved the use of a counterfeit QR label that mimicked the official certification from the Indian Institute of Carpet Technology (IICT). The issue was brought to light by a tourist, Syed Furqan Alam, who reported the incident after paying an advance of ₹25,000 for the carpet. Upon investigation, IICT confirmed that the QR label was forged. The Quality Control Division of the Directorate conducted a physical inspection, seized the carpet, and issued a show-cause notice to the showroom’s proprietor. The proprietor’s defense was deemed unsatisfactory, as photographic evidence contradicted his claims. The Directorate’s findings indicated a deliberate attempt to deceive consumers by exploiting the reputation of Kashmiri crafts. Consequently, the seller was found in violation of the J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act, 1978, leading to immediate blacklisting and deregistration. A formal complaint has been filed with the Senior Superintendent of Police, Tourism Enforcement, to pursue legal action against the proprietor and investigate the broader network involved in this fraudulent activity. The Directorate emphasized that such misbranding undermines consumer trust and threatens the livelihoods of numerous artisans and weavers in Kashmir. Stakeholders in the craft sector are warned against selling machine-made items as handmade, with the assurance that the Directorate will take swift action against any violations. Buyers are encouraged to report any instances of being sold machine-made products misrepresented as handmade to the Handicrafts and Handloom Department.
