Turbulence in Ministry over gold
New Delhi, June 23: The Central government admitted before the Kerala High Court that highly carcinogenic elements such as Iridium and Ruthenium were being freely added to gold ornaments in India.
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This alarming revelation was made in a counter affidavit submitted by Director of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) before the Kerala High Court. A division bench comprising Justice A.K. Basheer and Justice P.Q. Barkath Ali had suo moto initiated proceedings based on a letter received from Mr N. Shankaran Narayanan, a UN official, complaining of the presence of such elements in gold jewellery.
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Expressing concern at the disclosure, the HC said, “Strangely the BIS director pointed out that no action can be taken under the current BIS Act unless appropriate amendment is brought into the Schedule of Industries (Development and Regulations) Act 1951.”
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The BIS director informed the court that the differences of opinion between the ministry of commerce and industries and the ministry of consumer affairs had kept the amendment in a limbo. Further, the BIS director contended that BIS hallmarking scheme for gold was voluntary in nature and therefore the department does not have any say in it.
Expressing concern at the disclosure, the HC said, “Strangely the BIS director pointed out that no action can be taken under the current BIS Act unless appropriate amendment is brought into the Schedule of Industries (Development and Regulations) Act 1951.”
The BIS director informed the court that the differences of opinion between the ministry of commerce and industries and the ministry of consumer affairs had kept the amendment in a limbo. Further, the BIS director contended that BIS hallmarking scheme for gold was voluntary in nature and therefore the department does not have any say in it.
