Kathua: A team from Legal Metrology Department Kathua and Sub-District Administration Billawar comprising of Tehsildar Vishvajeet Singh, Assistant Controller Jaidep Singh Sambyal and Inspector Pritam Chand inspected a private school at Phintar and seized book sale counter opened by the school management in collaboration with a Jammu based Book seller. Various stationary items not carrying mandatory declarations such as MRP, No. of pages on notebooks, Size, name and address of publisher etc were seized.
The Asstt Controller Legal Metrology Kathua Jaideep Singh Sambyal stated that with the commencement of academic session 2018-19, complaints from parents against private educational institutions poured in particularly regarding to forced sale of Books and stationary items which is a unfair and restrictive trade practice. He added that students were allegedly forced to buy notebooks bearing name of a particular school which is a violation of right to choose under J&K Consumer Protection Act where under every consumer has right to choose among variety of goods and services available in a competitive market.
The Inspector Legal Metrology Dayalachak Prittam Salaria booked the School Management under relevant Act and rules.
The Asstt Controller Legal Metrology Kathua Jaideep Singh Sambyal on the undertaking given by School management that it will not violate any of the provisions of the law compounded the case and imposed a fine of Rs 50000.
The team of Officers also appealed the managements of all private schools to desist from such kind of practices failing which Department shall taken stern punitive action against all such defaulting institutions.
The team of Officers also appreciated the parents of children who approached the Department with such complaints.
