diff --git a/scripts/patch-maintenance-checklist-drop-key.sql b/scripts/patch-maintenance-checklist-drop-key.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e5c2671
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/patch-maintenance-checklist-drop-key.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+-- Strip legacy `key` from maintenance checklist JSON (template + logs).
+-- New shape: [{ "label": "...", "required": true }]
+-- Idempotent: safe to re-run.
+
+BEGIN;
+
+-- Asset checklist templates
+UPDATE assets
+SET maintenance_checklist_json = sub.cleaned
+FROM (
+  SELECT
+    a.id,
+    jsonb_agg(
+      jsonb_strip_nulls(
+        jsonb_build_object(
+          'label', COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(elem->>'label'), ''), NULLIF(trim(elem->>'key'), '')),
+          'required', COALESCE((elem->>'required')::boolean, true)
+        )
+      )
+      ORDER BY ord
+    ) AS cleaned
+  FROM assets a
+  CROSS JOIN LATERAL jsonb_array_elements(a.maintenance_checklist_json) WITH ORDINALITY AS t(elem, ord)
+  WHERE a.maintenance_checklist_json IS NOT NULL
+    AND jsonb_typeof(a.maintenance_checklist_json) = 'array'
+    AND jsonb_array_length(a.maintenance_checklist_json) > 0
+  GROUP BY a.id
+) sub
+WHERE assets.id = sub.id
+  AND sub.cleaned IS NOT NULL;
+
+-- Maintenance log results
+UPDATE asset_maintenance_logs
+SET checklist_json = sub.cleaned
+FROM (
+  SELECT
+    l.id,
+    jsonb_agg(
+      jsonb_strip_nulls(
+        jsonb_build_object(
+          'label', COALESCE(NULLIF(trim(elem->>'label'), ''), NULLIF(trim(elem->>'key'), '')),
+          'status', elem->>'status',
+          'remarks', NULLIF(elem->>'remarks', '')
+        )
+      )
+      ORDER BY ord
+    ) AS cleaned
+  FROM asset_maintenance_logs l
+  CROSS JOIN LATERAL jsonb_array_elements(l.checklist_json) WITH ORDINALITY AS t(elem, ord)
+  WHERE l.checklist_json IS NOT NULL
+    AND jsonb_typeof(l.checklist_json) = 'array'
+    AND jsonb_array_length(l.checklist_json) > 0
+  GROUP BY l.id
+) sub
+WHERE asset_maintenance_logs.id = sub.id
+  AND sub.cleaned IS NOT NULL;
+
+COMMIT;
diff --git a/src/docs/assets-routes.yaml b/src/docs/assets-routes.yaml
index 85c5536..0a4ae31 100644
--- a/src/docs/assets-routes.yaml
+++ b/src/docs/assets-routes.yaml
@@ -23,13 +23,12 @@ components:
         maintenance_checklist_json:
           type: array
           nullable: true
-          description: 'Checklist TEMPLATE stored on the asset'
+          description: 'Checklist TEMPLATE stored on the asset. Unique by label (case-insensitive). No `key` field.'
           items:
             type: object
-            required: [key, label]
+            required: [label]
             properties:
-              key: { type: string, example: 'oil_level' }
-              label: { type: string, example: 'Check oil level' }
+              label: { type: string, example: 'Check CO2 level' }
               required: { type: boolean, example: true }
         vendor_id: { type: integer, nullable: true }
         po_id: { type: integer, nullable: true }
@@ -73,9 +72,8 @@ components:
           nullable: true
           items:
             type: object
-            required: [key, label]
+            required: [label]
             properties:
-              key: { type: string }
               label: { type: string }
               required: { type: boolean }
         vendor_id: { type: integer, nullable: true }
@@ -122,10 +120,9 @@ components:
           minItems: 1
           items:
             type: object
-            required: [key, status]
+            required: [label, status]
             properties:
-              key: { type: string, example: 'oil_level' }
-              label: { type: string, example: 'Check oil level' }
+              label: { type: string, example: 'Check CO2 level' }
               status: { type: string, enum: [OK, NOT_OK, NA] }
               remarks: { type: string, nullable: true }
     TransferAssetBody:
@@ -612,7 +609,7 @@ paths:
       summary: Submit a maintenance checklist (incharge only)
       description: |
         Only the asset's `maintenance_incharge_user_id` may submit.
-        Required checklist keys from `maintenance_checklist_json` must be present with status OK/NOT_OK/NA.
+        Required checklist labels from `maintenance_checklist_json` must be present with status OK/NOT_OK/NA.
         `next_due_date` defaults to performed_date + maintenance_frequency_in_days.
       parameters:
         - { name: id, in: path, required: true, schema: { type: string } }
diff --git a/src/modules/assets/assets-maintenance.service.js b/src/modules/assets/assets-maintenance.service.js
index 3ecdbcc..7177336 100644
--- a/src/modules/assets/assets-maintenance.service.js
+++ b/src/modules/assets/assets-maintenance.service.js
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ const prisma = require('../../config/prisma');
 const ApiError = require('../../utils/ApiError');
 const auditLog = require('../../utils/auditLog');
 const { getPagination, isDropdownCall } = require('../../utils/pagination');
+const { toDateOnly, assertReference, getAssetOrThrow, normalizeChecklistTemplate, presentChecklistResults } = require('./assets.helpers');
 const { MAINTENANCE_CHECKLIST_STATUSES } = require('./assets.constants');
-const { toDateOnly, getAssetOrThrow } = require('./assets.helpers');
 const { sanitizeAsset } = require('./assets.service');
 
 const logInclude = {
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ const sanitizeLog = (row) => {
   } = row;
   return {
     ...rest,
+    checklist_json: presentChecklistResults(rest.checklist_json),
     performed_by_user: users_asset_maintenance_logs_performed_byTousers || null,
     created_by_user: users_asset_maintenance_logs_created_byTousers || null,
   };
@@ -61,59 +62,46 @@ const addDays = (value, days) => {
   return base;
 };
 
-const normalizeChecklistTemplate = (template) => {
-  if (template === null || template === undefined) return null;
-  if (!Array.isArray(template)) {
-    throw new ApiError(422, 'maintenance_checklist_json must be an array');
-  }
-  const keys = new Set();
-  return template.map((item, index) => {
-    const key = String(item.key || '').trim();
-    const label = String(item.label || '').trim();
-    if (!key) throw new ApiError(422, `Checklist item ${index + 1}: key is required`);
-    if (!label) throw new ApiError(422, `Checklist item ${index + 1}: label is required`);
-    if (keys.has(key)) throw new ApiError(422, `Duplicate checklist key: ${key}`);
-    keys.add(key);
-    return {
-      key,
-      label,
-      required: item.required !== false,
-    };
-  });
-};
-
 const validateChecklistResults = (template, results) => {
   if (!Array.isArray(results) || !results.length) {
     throw new ApiError(422, 'checklist_json is required and must contain at least one item');
   }
 
   const templateItems = Array.isArray(template) ? template : [];
-  const templateMap = new Map(templateItems.map((item) => [item.key, item]));
-  const resultKeys = new Set();
+  const templateMap = new Map(
+    templateItems.map((item) => [String(item.label).trim().toLowerCase(), item])
+  );
+  const resultLabels = new Set();
   const normalized = [];
 
   for (const row of results) {
-    const key = String(row.key || '').trim();
-    if (!key) throw new ApiError(422, 'Each checklist result requires a key');
-    if (resultKeys.has(key)) throw new ApiError(422, `Duplicate checklist result key: ${key}`);
-    resultKeys.add(key);
+    const label = String(row.label || '').trim();
+    if (!label) throw new ApiError(422, 'Each checklist result requires a label');
+    const labelKey = label.toLowerCase();
+    if (resultLabels.has(labelKey)) {
+      throw new ApiError(422, `Duplicate checklist result label: ${label}`);
+    }
+    resultLabels.add(labelKey);
 
     if (!MAINTENANCE_CHECKLIST_STATUSES.includes(row.status)) {
-      throw new ApiError(422, `Invalid checklist status for ${key}`);
+      throw new ApiError(422, `Invalid checklist status for "${label}"`);
+    }
+
+    const templateItem = templateMap.get(labelKey);
+    if (!templateItem) {
+      throw new ApiError(422, `Unknown checklist item: ${label}`);
     }
 
-    const templateItem = templateMap.get(key);
     normalized.push({
-      key,
-      label: row.label || templateItem?.label || key,
+      label: templateItem.label,
       status: row.status,
       remarks: row.remarks || null,
     });
   }
 
   for (const item of templateItems) {
-    if (item.required !== false && !resultKeys.has(item.key)) {
-      throw new ApiError(422, `Required checklist item missing: ${item.key}`);
+    if (item.required !== false && !resultLabels.has(String(item.label).trim().toLowerCase())) {
+      throw new ApiError(422, `Required checklist item missing: ${item.label}`);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/modules/assets/assets.helpers.js b/src/modules/assets/assets.helpers.js
index ec8d611..1adeb06 100644
--- a/src/modules/assets/assets.helpers.js
+++ b/src/modules/assets/assets.helpers.js
@@ -51,10 +51,61 @@ const deactivateOtherActive = async (tx, table, assetId, excludeId = null) => {
   });
 };
 
+/**
+ * Checklist template on assets: [{ label, required }] — no `key`.
+ * Strips legacy `key` if present; uniqueness is by label (case-insensitive).
+ */
+const normalizeChecklistTemplate = (template) => {
+  if (template === null || template === undefined) return null;
+  if (!Array.isArray(template)) {
+    throw new ApiError(422, 'maintenance_checklist_json must be an array');
+  }
+  const labels = new Set();
+  return template.map((item, index) => {
+    const label = String(item?.label || item?.key || '').trim();
+    if (!label) throw new ApiError(422, `Checklist item ${index + 1}: label is required`);
+    const labelKey = label.toLowerCase();
+    if (labels.has(labelKey)) {
+      throw new ApiError(422, `Duplicate checklist label: ${label}`);
+    }
+    labels.add(labelKey);
+    return {
+      label,
+      required: item.required !== false,
+    };
+  });
+};
+
+/**
+ * Soft-strip legacy `key` for API responses (no uniqueness validation).
+ */
+const presentChecklistTemplate = (template) => {
+  if (template === null || template === undefined) return null;
+  if (!Array.isArray(template)) return template;
+  return template
+    .map((item) => ({
+      label: String(item?.label || item?.key || '').trim(),
+      required: item?.required !== false,
+    }))
+    .filter((item) => item.label);
+};
+
+const presentChecklistResults = (results) => {
+  if (!Array.isArray(results)) return results ?? null;
+  return results.map((item) => ({
+    label: String(item?.label || item?.key || '').trim(),
+    status: item?.status,
+    remarks: item?.remarks ?? null,
+  }));
+};
+
 module.exports = {
   toDateOnly,
   assertReference,
   getAssetOrThrow,
   deactivateOtherActive,
+  normalizeChecklistTemplate,
+  presentChecklistTemplate,
+  presentChecklistResults,
   SOFT_DELETE_TABLES,
 };
diff --git a/src/modules/assets/assets.service.js b/src/modules/assets/assets.service.js
index b1633cd..b610278 100644
--- a/src/modules/assets/assets.service.js
+++ b/src/modules/assets/assets.service.js
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ const {
   resolveDepreciationRate,
   calculateDepreciation,
 } = require('./assets.depreciation');
-const { assertReference, toDateOnly } = require('./assets.helpers');
+const { assertReference, toDateOnly, normalizeChecklistTemplate, presentChecklistTemplate } = require('./assets.helpers');
 const { sanitizeAttachment } = require('./assets.attachments.service');
 
 const assetInclude = {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ const buildMaintenanceSummary = (rest, logs) => {
 
   return {
     frequency_in_days: frequency,
-    checklist: rest.maintenance_checklist_json ?? null,
+    checklist: presentChecklistTemplate(rest.maintenance_checklist_json),
     last_maintenance_date: lastMaintenanceDate,
     next_due_date: nextDueDate,
     is_due: isDue,
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ const sanitizeAsset = (asset) => {
 
   return {
     ...rest,
+    maintenance_checklist_json: presentChecklistTemplate(rest.maintenance_checklist_json),
     purchase_cost: purchaseCost,
     salvage_value: salvageValue,
     depreciation_rate: depreciationRate,
@@ -260,19 +261,8 @@ const normalizeAssetPayload = async (payload, { isCreate = false } = {}) => {
   if (payload.maintenance_checklist_json !== undefined) {
     if (payload.maintenance_checklist_json === null) {
       checklistJson = null;
-    } else if (!Array.isArray(payload.maintenance_checklist_json)) {
-      throw new ApiError(422, 'maintenance_checklist_json must be an array');
     } else {
-      const keys = new Set();
-      checklistJson = payload.maintenance_checklist_json.map((item, index) => {
-        const key = String(item.key || '').trim();
-        const label = String(item.label || '').trim();
-        if (!key) throw new ApiError(422, `Checklist item ${index + 1}: key is required`);
-        if (!label) throw new ApiError(422, `Checklist item ${index + 1}: label is required`);
-        if (keys.has(key)) throw new ApiError(422, `Duplicate checklist key: ${key}`);
-        keys.add(key);
-        return { key, label, required: item.required !== false };
-      });
+      checklistJson = normalizeChecklistTemplate(payload.maintenance_checklist_json);
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/src/modules/assets/assets.validation.js b/src/modules/assets/assets.validation.js
index 722f087..026414c 100644
--- a/src/modules/assets/assets.validation.js
+++ b/src/modules/assets/assets.validation.js
@@ -16,19 +16,17 @@ const {
 } = require('./assets.constants');
 
 const checklistTemplateItemSchema = Joi.object({
-  key: Joi.string().trim().max(50).required(),
   label: Joi.string().trim().max(200).required(),
   required: Joi.boolean().default(true),
-}).unknown(true);
+});
 
 const checklistResultItemSchema = Joi.object({
-  key: Joi.string().trim().max(50).required(),
-  label: Joi.string().trim().max(200).optional(),
+  label: Joi.string().trim().max(200).required(),
   status: Joi.string()
     .valid(...MAINTENANCE_CHECKLIST_STATUSES)
     .required(),
   remarks: Joi.string().allow(null, '').max(500).optional(),
-}).unknown(true);
+});
 
 const assetFields = {
   asset_name: Joi.string().max(200).required(),