Jewellery shop owners shut stores for two hours on Monday to protest against mandatory Hallmark Certification Act by the Central Government
Coimbatore: In Coimbatore, gold jewellery store owners shut shop in various places, including Raja Street and Big Bazaar Street, demanding the abolition of the new Hallmark stamp duty on gold jewellery.
A new central order mandating the Huid Hallmark logo for gold jewellery came into effect on July 1. Gold jewellery store owners and goldsmiths across Tamil Nadu have been protesting on Monday against it.
As part of this protest, over 500 gold jewellery stores were shut for two hours in protest against the Central Government's order.
From 9 am till 11.30 am on Monday, shops were closed while the jewellery store owners and employees raised placards with slogans and took to the streets to protest.
They also alleged that the production of gold jewellery was halted due to the lack of adequate Hallmark centers across Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore.
Gold jewellery manufacturers involved in the protest demanded that the Central and State Governments should take action to continue with the old system and withdraw the new order.