SHOPIAN, FEBRUARY 12: In view of the ensuing month of Ramzan ul Mubarak and in line with the directions passed by Deputy Commissioner, Shopian in recently held Ramzan preparedness meeting , Market checking teams conducted inspection visits across the district today.
Inspections aimed to ensure the availability of quality essentials at fair prices and to check market practices in conformity with the norms.
Acting on these directions, Joint Enforcement Teams comprising officers and officials from the Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department, Food Safety Department, Legal Metrology, Revenue Department and Police carried out comprehensive market checking drives in different tehsils of Shopian, including Barbugh Imam Sahib, Chitragam, Hermain, and Shopian under the supervision of the concerned Executive Magistrates ( Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars).
During the inspections, the teams thoroughly scrutinised compliance with market regulations, including use of standard weights and measures, hygiene,and quality of food items and other parameters viz a viz standard controls of government.
Special emphasis was laid on preventing overpricing, hoarding and sale of spurious or sub-standard commodities, particularly items in high demand during Ramzan.
As part of enforcement action, penalties amounting to about Rs 19,000 were imposed on erring shopkeepers, while expired and unsafe food items were seized and destroyed on the spot in accordance with prescribed norms.
The District Administration reiterated that such market checking drives will continue regularly throughout Ramzan to safeguard consumer interests and ensure that traders strictly adhere to legal and ethical business practices.
Shopkeepers were advised to maintain transparency and cooperate with enforcement agencies, failing which strict action under relevant laws will be initiated.