Ernakulam: A case has been filed against six flower vendors in Ernakulam for allegedly employing deceptive measurement practises while selling jasmine flowers. The vendors are accused of measuring and selling jasmine flowers by using their own arm lengths, leading to inconsistent measurements and potential customer exploitation. Authorities have taken a stern stance against such practises, emphasising the importance of fair trade and consumer protection.
The case was registered after it was discovered that the practise of using personal arm lengths for measurement could result in varying quantities of flowers being sold to customers. Each individual’s arm length is different, which makes this approach unreliable and prone to discrepancies. Consequently, the vendors have been slapped with a fine of two thousand rupees each.
This underscores the need for stringent monitoring of roadside flower stalls, particularly during festive seasons like Onam, to ensure that consumers are not being taken advantage of.
Officials responsible for legal metrology enforcement have raised concerns about the lack of proper inspections of roadside flower vendors during peak times like Onam.
While items like jasmine are often sold by the “cubit,” a measure from the elbow to the tip of the finger, flowers like jasmine require consistent and standardised measurements to ensure transparency in transactions. The size of jasmine flowers can vary significantly based on individual hand sizes, further necessitating accurate measurement practises.
Current regulations mandate that jasmine flowers be either measured using a length scale or hung on a threshold for sale. This ensures uniformity and fairness in transactions, preventing vendors from taking undue advantage of customers by employing inconsistent measurements.
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