Overcharging prove costly to 280 shopkeepers in Punjab; paid Rs 8 lacs as fine-Ashu
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
Cracking a whip on shopkeepers charging over price of essentials during Lockdown/Curfew, Punjab Consumer Affairs has conducted state wide checking drive and 892 Shops, Petrol Pumps, Gas Agencies & Chemist Shops has been checked throughout the state. Out of these, 280 establishments has been found indulged in malpractices and the department imposed penalty worth rupees 7,94,000 on them. This was disclosed here today By Consumer Affairs and Civil Supplies Minister Punjab Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
Emphasising on the need of checking to curb the menance, Ashu said that the department has received 4 complaints regarding charging of overpricing of essentials. Prompt action has been taken and state wide checking drive has been conducted, in which 892 establishments checked throughout the state and 152 cases have been registered against establishments allegedly charging overpricing under PCR Act and other concerned provisions of the law. Meanwhile 128 shop keepers have been booked under PCR Act and compounding challans have been issued to them.
Overcharging prove costly to 280 shopkeepers in Punjab; paid Rs 8 lacs as fine-Ashu.The Minister said that on the directives of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the department is diligently working to ensure that the sale of essential commodities must be on MRP or below the MRP. He said that if anyone wants to lodge any complaint regarding overpricing, he can contact the helpline no 0172-2684000 of Food and Civil Supplies Department. Prompt action will be taken on these complaints.
April, 28,2020
