The Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution / Department of Consumer Affairs
Section
Section 21 Borrowing powers of Bureau.
(1) The Bureau may, with the consent of the Central Government or in accordance with the terms of any general or special authority given to it by the Central Government, borrow money from any source as it may deem fit for discharging all or any of its functions under this Act.
(2) The Central Government may guarantee in such manner as it thinks fit, the repayment of the principal and the payment of interest thereon with respect to the loans borrowed by Bureau under sub-section (1).
(2) The Central Government may guarantee in such manner as it thinks fit, the repayment of the principal and the payment of interest thereon with respect to the loans borrowed by Bureau under sub-section (1).
Section 22 Budget.
The Bureau shall prepare, in such form and at such time in each financial year as may be prescribed, its budget for the next financial year, showing the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Bureau and forward the same to the Central Government.
Section 23 Annual report.
(1) The Bureau shall prepare, in such form and at such time in each financial year as may be prescribed, its annual report, giving a full account of its activities during the previous financial year, and submit a copy thereof to the Central Government.
(2) The Central Government shall cause the annual report to be laid, as soon as may be after it is received, before each House of Parliament.
(2) The Central Government shall cause the annual report to be laid, as soon as may be after it is received, before each House of Parliament.
Section 24 Accounts and audit.
(1) The Bureau shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts, in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(2) The accounts of the Bureau shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection with such audit shall be payable by the Bureau to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Bureau shall have the same rights and privileges and the authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India generally has in connection with the audit of Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any office of the Bureau.
(4) The accounts of the Bureau as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government and that Government shall cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.
(2) The accounts of the Bureau shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection with such audit shall be payable by the Bureau to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Bureau shall have the same rights and privileges and the authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India generally has in connection with the audit of Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any office of the Bureau.
(4) The accounts of the Bureau as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government and that Government shall cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.
Section 25 Power of Central Government to issue directions. 1 docs
(1) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Act, the Bureau shall, in the exercise of its powers or the performance of its functions under this Act, be bound by such directions on questions of policy as the Central Government may give in writing to it from time to time:
Provided that the Bureau shall, as far as practicable, be given an opportunity to express its views before any direction is given under this sub-section.
(2) The decision of the Central Government whether a question is one of policy or not shall be final.
(3) The Central Government may take such other action as may be necessary for the promotion, monitoring and management of quality of goods, articles, processes, systems and services and to protect the interests of consumers and various other stakeholders and notify any other goods, articles, processes, systems and services for the purpose of sub-section (1) of section 16.
Provided that the Bureau shall, as far as practicable, be given an opportunity to express its views before any direction is given under this sub-section.
(2) The decision of the Central Government whether a question is one of policy or not shall be final.
(3) The Central Government may take such other action as may be necessary for the promotion, monitoring and management of quality of goods, articles, processes, systems and services and to protect the interests of consumers and various other stakeholders and notify any other goods, articles, processes, systems and services for the purpose of sub-section (1) of section 16.
Section 26 Restriction on use of name of Bureau and Indian Standard.
(1) No person shall, with a view to deceive or likely to deceive the public, use without the previous permission of the Bureau, —
(a) any name which so nearly resembles the name of the Bureau as to deceive or likely to deceive the public or the name which contains the expression "Indian Standard" or any abbreviation thereof; or
(b) any title of any patent or mark or trade mark or design, in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service, containing the expressions "Indian Standard" or "Indian Standard Specification" or any abbreviation of such expressions.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no registering authority shall—
(a) register any company, firm or other body of persons which bears any name or mark; or
(b) register a trade mark or design which bears any name or mark; or
(c) grant a patent, in respect of an invention, which bears a title containing any name or mark,
if the use of such name or mark is in contravention of sub-section (1).
(3) If any question arises before a registering authority whether the use of any name or mark is in contravention of sub-section (1), the registering authority may refer the question to the Central Government whose decision thereon shall be final.
(a) any name which so nearly resembles the name of the Bureau as to deceive or likely to deceive the public or the name which contains the expression "Indian Standard" or any abbreviation thereof; or
(b) any title of any patent or mark or trade mark or design, in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service, containing the expressions "Indian Standard" or "Indian Standard Specification" or any abbreviation of such expressions.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, no registering authority shall—
(a) register any company, firm or other body of persons which bears any name or mark; or
(b) register a trade mark or design which bears any name or mark; or
(c) grant a patent, in respect of an invention, which bears a title containing any name or mark,
if the use of such name or mark is in contravention of sub-section (1).
(3) If any question arises before a registering authority whether the use of any name or mark is in contravention of sub-section (1), the registering authority may refer the question to the Central Government whose decision thereon shall be final.
Section 27 Appointment and powers of certification officers.
(1) The Bureau may appoint as many certification officers as may be necessary for the purpose of inspection whether any goods, article, process, system or service in relation to which the Standard Mark has been used conforms to the relevant standard or whether the Standard Mark has been properly used in relation to any goods, article, process, system or service with or without licence, and for performing such other functions as may be assigned to them.
(2) Subject to any rules made under this Act, a certification officer shall have power to—
(a) inspect any operation carried on in connection with any goods, article, process, system or service in relation to which the Standard Mark has been used; and
(b) take samples of any goods or article or of any material or substance used in any goods, article, process, system or service, in relation to which the Standard Mark has been used.
(3) Every certification officer shall be furnished by the Bureau with a certificate of appointment as a certification officer, and the certificate shall, on demand, be produced by the certification officer.
(4) Every certified body or licence holder shall—
(a) provide reasonable facilities to certification officer to enable him to discharge the duties imposed on him;
(b) inform certification officer or the Bureau of any change in the conditions which were declared or verified by the certification officer or the Bureau at the time of grant of certificate of conformity or licence.
(5) Any information obtained by a certification officer or the Bureau from any statement made or information supplied or any evidence given or from inspection made under the provisions of this Act shall be treated as confidential:
Provided that nothing shall apply to the disclosure of any information for the purpose of prosecution and protection of interest of consumers
(2) Subject to any rules made under this Act, a certification officer shall have power to—
(a) inspect any operation carried on in connection with any goods, article, process, system or service in relation to which the Standard Mark has been used; and
(b) take samples of any goods or article or of any material or substance used in any goods, article, process, system or service, in relation to which the Standard Mark has been used.
(3) Every certification officer shall be furnished by the Bureau with a certificate of appointment as a certification officer, and the certificate shall, on demand, be produced by the certification officer.
(4) Every certified body or licence holder shall—
(a) provide reasonable facilities to certification officer to enable him to discharge the duties imposed on him;
(b) inform certification officer or the Bureau of any change in the conditions which were declared or verified by the certification officer or the Bureau at the time of grant of certificate of conformity or licence.
(5) Any information obtained by a certification officer or the Bureau from any statement made or information supplied or any evidence given or from inspection made under the provisions of this Act shall be treated as confidential:
Provided that nothing shall apply to the disclosure of any information for the purpose of prosecution and protection of interest of consumers
Section 28 Power to search and seizure.
(1) If the certification officer has reason to believe that any goods or articles, process, system or service in relation to which the contravention of section 11 or sub-sections (6) or (8) of section 14 or section 15 or section 17 has taken place are secreted in any place, premises or vehicle, he may enter into and search such place, premises or vehicle for such goods or articles, process, system or service, as the case may be.
(2) Where, as a result of any search made under sub-section (1), any goods or article, process, system or service has been found in relation to which contravention of section 11 or sub-sections (6) or (8) of section 14 or section 15 or section 17 has taken place, the certification officer may seize such goods or article and other material and documents which, in his opinion will be useful for, or relevant to any proceeding under this Act:
Provided that where it is not practicable to seize any such goods or article or material or document, the certification officer may serve on the owner an order that he shall not remove, part with, or otherwise deal with, the goods or article or material or document except with the previous permission of the certification officer.
(3) The provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), relating to searches and seizures shall, so far as may be, apply to every search or seizure made under this section.
(2) Where, as a result of any search made under sub-section (1), any goods or article, process, system or service has been found in relation to which contravention of section 11 or sub-sections (6) or (8) of section 14 or section 15 or section 17 has taken place, the certification officer may seize such goods or article and other material and documents which, in his opinion will be useful for, or relevant to any proceeding under this Act:
Provided that where it is not practicable to seize any such goods or article or material or document, the certification officer may serve on the owner an order that he shall not remove, part with, or otherwise deal with, the goods or article or material or document except with the previous permission of the certification officer.
(3) The provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), relating to searches and seizures shall, so far as may be, apply to every search or seizure made under this section.
Section 29 Penalty for contravention.
(1) Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 11 or sub-section (1) of section 26 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-sections (6) or (8) of section 14 or section 15 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees, but may extend up to five times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold or affixed or applied with a Standard Mark including Hallmark, or with both:
Provided that where the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold cannot be determined, it shall be presumed that one year's production was in such contravention and the annual turnover in the previous financial year shall be taken as the value of goods or articles for such contravention.
(3) Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 17 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to two years or with fine which shall not be less than two lakh rupees for the first contravention and not be less than five lakh rupees for the second and subsequent contraventions, but may extend up to ten times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold or affixed or applied with a Standard Mark, including Hallmark, or with both:
Provided that where the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold cannot be determined, it shall be presumed that one year's production was in such contravention and the annual turnover in the previous financial year shall be taken as the value of goods or articles for such contravention.
(4) The offence under sub-section (3) shall be cognizable.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-sections (6) or (8) of section 14 or section 15 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees, but may extend up to five times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold or affixed or applied with a Standard Mark including Hallmark, or with both:
Provided that where the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold cannot be determined, it shall be presumed that one year's production was in such contravention and the annual turnover in the previous financial year shall be taken as the value of goods or articles for such contravention.
(3) Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 17 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to two years or with fine which shall not be less than two lakh rupees for the first contravention and not be less than five lakh rupees for the second and subsequent contraventions, but may extend up to ten times the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold or affixed or applied with a Standard Mark, including Hallmark, or with both:
Provided that where the value of goods or articles produced or sold or offered to be sold cannot be determined, it shall be presumed that one year's production was in such contravention and the annual turnover in the previous financial year shall be taken as the value of goods or articles for such contravention.
(4) The offence under sub-section (3) shall be cognizable.
Section 30 Offences by companies.
Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of and was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, or authorised representative of the company as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly, irrespective of the fact that the offence has been committed with or without the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, or authorised representative of the company.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) "company" means a body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
(a) "company" means a body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.
Section 31 Compensation for non-conforming goods.
Where a holder of licence or certificate of conformity or his representative has sold any goods, article, process, system or service, which bears a Standard Mark not conforming to the relevant standard, or with colourable imitation, the certified body or licence holder or his representative shall be liable to compensate the consumer for the injury caused by such non-conforming goods, article, process, system or service in such manner as may be prescribed.
Section 32 Cognizance of offence by courts. 1 docs
(1) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, specially empowered in this behalf, shall try any offence punishable under this Act.
(2) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act save on a complaint made by—
(a) or under the authority of the Bureau; or
(b) any police officer, not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police or equivalent; or
(c) any authority notified under sub-section (2) of section 16; or
(d) any officer empowered under the authority of the Government; or
(e) any consumer; or
(f) any association.
(3) Any police officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police or equivalent, may, if he is satisfied that any of the offences referred to in sub-section (3) of section 29 has been, is being, or is likely to be, committed, search and seize without warrant, the goods, die, block, machine, plate, other instruments or things involved in committing the offence, wherever found, and all the articles so seized shall, as soon as practicable, be produced before a Magistrate as prescribed under sub-section (1).
(4) The court may direct that any property in respect of which the contravention has taken place shall be forfeited to the Bureau.
(5) The court may direct that any fine, in whole or any part thereof, payable under the provisions of this Act, shall be payable to the Bureau.
(2) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act save on a complaint made by—
(a) or under the authority of the Bureau; or
(b) any police officer, not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police or equivalent; or
(c) any authority notified under sub-section (2) of section 16; or
(d) any officer empowered under the authority of the Government; or
(e) any consumer; or
(f) any association.
(3) Any police officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police or equivalent, may, if he is satisfied that any of the offences referred to in sub-section (3) of section 29 has been, is being, or is likely to be, committed, search and seize without warrant, the goods, die, block, machine, plate, other instruments or things involved in committing the offence, wherever found, and all the articles so seized shall, as soon as practicable, be produced before a Magistrate as prescribed under sub-section (1).
(4) The court may direct that any property in respect of which the contravention has taken place shall be forfeited to the Bureau.
(5) The court may direct that any fine, in whole or any part thereof, payable under the provisions of this Act, shall be payable to the Bureau.
Section 33 Compounding of offence.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), any offence committed for the first time, punishable under this Act, not being an offence punishable with imprisonment only, or with imprisonment and also with fine, may, either before or after the institution of any prosecution, be compounded by an officer so authorised by the Director General, in such manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that the sum so specified shall not in any case exceed the maximum amount of the fine which may be imposed under section 29 for the offence so compounded; and any second or subsequent offence committed after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which the offence was previously compounded shall be deemed to be an offence committed for the first time.
(2) Every officer referred to in sub-section (1) shall exercise the powers to compound an offence, subject to the direction, control and supervision of the Bureau.
(3) Every application for the compounding of an offence shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed.
(4) Where any offence is compounded before the institution of any prosecution, no prosecution shall be instituted in relation to such offence against the offender in relation to whom the offence is so compounded.
(5) Where the composition of any offence is made after the institution of any prosecution, such composition shall be brought to the notice of the court in which the prosecution is pending in writing by the officer referred to in sub-section (1), and on such notice of the composition of the offence being given and its acceptance by the court, the person against whom the offence is so compounded shall be discharged.
Provided that the sum so specified shall not in any case exceed the maximum amount of the fine which may be imposed under section 29 for the offence so compounded; and any second or subsequent offence committed after the expiry of a period of three years from the date on which the offence was previously compounded shall be deemed to be an offence committed for the first time.
(2) Every officer referred to in sub-section (1) shall exercise the powers to compound an offence, subject to the direction, control and supervision of the Bureau.
(3) Every application for the compounding of an offence shall be made in such manner as may be prescribed.
(4) Where any offence is compounded before the institution of any prosecution, no prosecution shall be instituted in relation to such offence against the offender in relation to whom the offence is so compounded.
(5) Where the composition of any offence is made after the institution of any prosecution, such composition shall be brought to the notice of the court in which the prosecution is pending in writing by the officer referred to in sub-section (1), and on such notice of the composition of the offence being given and its acceptance by the court, the person against whom the offence is so compounded shall be discharged.
Section 34 Appeal.
(1) Any person aggrieved by an order made under section 13 or sub-section (4) of section 14 or section 17 of this Act may prefer an appeal to Director General of the Bureau within such period as prescribed.
(2) No appeal shall be admitted if it is preferred after the expiry of the period prescribed therefor:
Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the period prescribed therefor if the appellant satisfies the Director General that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the prescribed period.
(3) Every appeal made under this section shall be made in such form and shall be accompanied by a copy of the order appealed against and by such fees as may be prescribed.
(4) The procedure for disposing of an appeal shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that before disposing of an appeal, the appellant shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(5) The Director General may suo motu or on an application made in the manner prescribed review the order passed by any officer to whom the power has been delegated by him.
(6) Any person aggrieved by an order made under sub-section (1) or sub-section (5) may prefer an appeal to the Central Government having administrative control of the Bureau within such period as may be prescribed.
(2) No appeal shall be admitted if it is preferred after the expiry of the period prescribed therefor:
Provided that an appeal may be admitted after the expiry of the period prescribed therefor if the appellant satisfies the Director General that he had sufficient cause for not preferring the appeal within the prescribed period.
(3) Every appeal made under this section shall be made in such form and shall be accompanied by a copy of the order appealed against and by such fees as may be prescribed.
(4) The procedure for disposing of an appeal shall be such as may be prescribed:
Provided that before disposing of an appeal, the appellant shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.
(5) The Director General may suo motu or on an application made in the manner prescribed review the order passed by any officer to whom the power has been delegated by him.
(6) Any person aggrieved by an order made under sub-section (1) or sub-section (5) may prefer an appeal to the Central Government having administrative control of the Bureau within such period as may be prescribed.
Section 35 Members, officers and employees of Bureau to be public servants.
All members, officers and other employees of the Bureau shall be deemed, when acting or purporting to act in pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act, to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
Section 36 Protection of action taken in good faith.
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the Government or any officer of the Government or any member, officer or other employee of the Bureau for anything which is in done or intended to be done in good faith under this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder.
Section 37 Authentication of orders and other instruments of Bureau.
All orders and decisions of, and all other instruments issued by, the Bureau shall be authenticated by the signature of such officer or officers as may be authorised by the Bureau in this behalf.
Section 38 Power to make rules. 3 docs
The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
Section 39 Power to make regulations. 8 docs
The Executive Committee may, with the previous approval of the Central Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, make regulations consistent with this Act and the rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Section 40 Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament.
Every rule and every regulation made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or regulation or both Houses agree that the rule or regulation should not be made, the rule or regulation shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or regulation.