Guwahati, May 23, 2026: Officials of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Guwahati Branch Office, carried out a search and seizure operation on Thursday at M/s Shree Sainath Jewellery located at Basistha Chariali, Bakrapara Road near Happy Montessori School in Guwahati.

The operation was conducted following complaints regarding the alleged misuse of BIS Hallmark and unauthorized sale of gold jewellery items without BIS hallmarking registration. During the inspection, BIS officials reportedly found that the jewellery shop was prominently displaying the BIS Hallmark logo on banners and outside walls despite not having any valid BIS hallmarking registration or authorization to use the hallmark.

According to the BIS enforcement team, further investigation revealed that the establishment was allegedly selling gold jewellery articles bearing spurious BIS Hallmarks. Officials stated that the use of fake or unauthorized hallmarks is a serious violation under the provisions of the BIS Act, 2016. The Government of India has made hallmarking mandatory for gold jewellery and artefacts in notified districts to ensure purity assurance and consumer protection.

BIS officials informed that action is being initiated against the offenders under Sections 15(1) and 15(2) of the BIS Act, 2016. Violations under the Act are punishable with imprisonment for up to one year, or a fine of not less than Rs. 1 lakh, which may extend up to five times the value of the goods sold or offered for sale with unauthorized hallmarking, or both.

The BIS Act prohibits any person from selling, storing, exhibiting or distributing notified goods carrying the Standard Mark or Hallmark without certification from BIS. It also bars unauthorized persons from displaying or advertising such marks.

BIS stated that it regularly conducts search and seizure operations whenever complaints related to violations of the BIS Act are received in order to safeguard consumer interests. The organisation has also urged citizens to report instances of misuse of ISI Marks or BIS Hallmarks and sale of uncertified mandatory products to the Guwahati Branch Office or via email at ghbo@bis.gov.in, assuring that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.