Traders warned against levying GST on MRP

Hyderabad : Civil Supplies Commissioner C.V. Anand warned manufacturers / packers / importers against collecting GST additional to MRP on packaged goods. He directed Legal and Metrology officials to take severe action if any complaint is received on if additional GST on MRP is charged on customers.

Customers should be made aware the inclusion of GST in MRP and it should not to be charged separately. Several complaints of additional GST been charged on packaged goods over MRP, and some non taxed goods are also been taxed with GST came to notice. It is illegal. Immediate action will be taken and will be punished severely.

Brief review meeting was conducted on Wednesday, at Legal and Metrology Department office in Gandhinagar. After review meeting Commissioner inspected Legal and Metrology office. He examined performance of weighing machines, Weigh Bridge and other equipments. Commissioner took serious note on the non functioning of Weight Bridge which costs lakhs of rupees. He instructed the officials to make it conditioned and use in one or two days.

At the review meeting Commissioner C.V. Anand said some organizations are doing malpractice. Several complaints of variation in weight, GST on packed goods having MRP are coming and officials should take immediate action on these complaints.

He said consumers should be made aware of inclusion of GST in MRP. He directed Legal and Metrology officials to organize a meeting with traders and businessmen on Thursday to discuss on this matter.

Special teams are formed with Legal and Metrology Department Officials and staff to make special checks statewide from Thursday, 26th October and book cases if any such malpractice or deceptive act is performed.

To facilitate consumers for giving complaints separate grievance cell is started. Consumers can complain even on Civil Supplies WhatsApp No. 7330774444 and also can call upon the Legal, Metrology Department numbers 7386136907, 27612170 and can lodge complaint through mail to [email protected].

Consumers can also directly lodge complaint at the head office of Legal Metrology Department, 209, PWD Building, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad.

The Legal and Metrology Department will take immediate action on the complaint. Complaints are received on some organizations that they are charging GST on MRP even after the GST law coming to force.

New MRP of unsold stock prior to 1st July 2017 should not be calculated mechanically. With coming into force of the GST law in rare cases where there is need original MRP shall continue to be displayed and the revised MRP shall not over write on it. It can be declared such revised MRP on their unsold stock through stickers, online printing, stamping.

They have to issue two advertisements in one or more newspapers and intimate the Director Legal Metrology and Controllers of Legal Metrology in the state. This provision is valid upto 31st December. They should end dual price business.

As per the orders from Central government released on 23rd June this year, unless otherwise specifically provided under any other law, no manufacturer or packer or importer shall declare different MRP on an identical pre-packaged commodity by adopting restrictive trade practices as defined. Violation of the rules will be slapped with severe actions against them.

Official should create awareness to the consumers about the GST, Dual rate policy, service charges.

Legal and Metrology Department can take action in 43 different types of unfair trade practices like malpractice in weight & measures, selling more than MRP likewise in petrol bunks, gold shops, PDS shops, paddy purchase centers etc.

Commissioner C.V. Anand said Legal and Meteorology Department is not working as per expectation. More disciplinary measures are necessary in the department. District officers should leave the district centre without prior written permission from Controller, or else they will be suspended. Recently one or two officers were suspended on these grounds