The Legal Metrology Act, 2009
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution / Department of Consumer Affairs
Section
Section 21 Training in Legal Metrology.
(1) For imparting training in Legal Metrology and other allied branches of knowledge the "Indian Institute of Legal Metrology" (hereinafter referred to as the "Institute") established under the provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 (60 of 1976), shall be deemed to have been established under the corresponding provisions of this Act.
(2) The management and control of the Institute, the teaching staff and other employees, the courses and curricula for training thereat, the qualifications, which a person shall possess in order to be eligible for admission thereto shall be such as may be prescribed.
(2) The management and control of the Institute, the teaching staff and other employees, the courses and curricula for training thereat, the qualifications, which a person shall possess in order to be eligible for admission thereto shall be such as may be prescribed.
Section 22 Approval of model.
Every person, before manufacturing or importing any weight or measure shall seek the approval of model of such weight or measure in such manner, on payment of such fee and from such authority as may be prescribed:
Provided that such approval of model may not be required in respect of any cast iron, brass, bullion, or carat weight or any beam scale, length measures (not being measuring tapes) which are ordinarily used in retail trade for measuring textiles or timber, capacity measures, not exceeding twenty litre in capacity, which are ordinarily used in retail trade for measuring kerosene, milk or potable liquors:
Provided further that the prescribed authority may, if he is satisfied that the model of any weight or measure which has been approved in a country outside India conforms to the standards established by or under this Act, approve such model without any test or after such test as he may deem fit.
Provided that such approval of model may not be required in respect of any cast iron, brass, bullion, or carat weight or any beam scale, length measures (not being measuring tapes) which are ordinarily used in retail trade for measuring textiles or timber, capacity measures, not exceeding twenty litre in capacity, which are ordinarily used in retail trade for measuring kerosene, milk or potable liquors:
Provided further that the prescribed authority may, if he is satisfied that the model of any weight or measure which has been approved in a country outside India conforms to the standards established by or under this Act, approve such model without any test or after such test as he may deem fit.
Section 23 Prohibition on manufacture, repair or sale of weight or measure without licence.
(1) No person shall manufacture, repair or sell, or offer, expose or possess for repair or sale, any weight or measure unless he holds a licence issued by the Controller under sub-section (2):
Provided that no licence to repair shall be required by a manufacturer for repair of his own weight or measure in a State other than the State of manufacture of the same.
(2) For the purpose of sub-section (1), the Controller shall issue a licence in such form and manner, on such conditions, for such period and such area of jurisdiction and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
Provided that no licence to repair shall be required by a manufacturer for repair of his own weight or measure in a State other than the State of manufacture of the same.
(2) For the purpose of sub-section (1), the Controller shall issue a licence in such form and manner, on such conditions, for such period and such area of jurisdiction and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
Section 24 Verification and stamping of weight or measure.
(1) Every person having any weight or measure in his possession, custody or control in circumstances indicating that such weight or measure is being, or is intended or is likely to be, used by him in any transaction or for protection, shall, before putting such weight or measure into such use, have such weight or measure verified at such place and during such hours as the Controller may, by general or special order, specify in this behalf, on payment of such fees as may be prescribed.
(2) The Central Government may prescribe the kinds of weights and measures for which the verification is to be done through the Government approved Test Centre.
(3) The Government approved Test Centre shall be notified by the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, in such manner, on such terms and conditions and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
(4) The Government approved Test Centre shall appoint or engage persons having such qualifications and experience and collect such fee on such terms and conditions for the verification of weights and measures specified under sub-section (2) as may be prescribed.
(2) The Central Government may prescribe the kinds of weights and measures for which the verification is to be done through the Government approved Test Centre.
(3) The Government approved Test Centre shall be notified by the Central Government or the State Government, as the case may be, in such manner, on such terms and conditions and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
(4) The Government approved Test Centre shall appoint or engage persons having such qualifications and experience and collect such fee on such terms and conditions for the verification of weights and measures specified under sub-section (2) as may be prescribed.
Section 25 Penalty for use of non-standard weight or measure.
Whoever uses or keeps for use any weight or measure or makes use of any numeration otherwise than in accordance with the standards of weight or measure or the standard of numeration, as the case may be, specified by or under this Act, shall be punished with fine which may extend to 1[one lakh rupees and for the second offence with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees and for the third and subsequent offence, with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees].
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2023, s. 2 and the Schedule, for certain words (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 26 Penalty for alteration of weight and measure.
Whoever tampers with, or alters in any way, any reference standard, secondary standard or working standard or increases or decreases or alters any weight or measure with a view to deceiving any person or knowing or having reason to believe that any person is likely to be deceived thereby, except where such alteration is made for the correction of any error noticed therein on verification, shall be punished with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and for the second and subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to one year or with fine or with both.
Section 27 Penalty for manufacture or sale of non-standard weight or measure.
Every person who manufactures or causes to be manufactured or sells or offers, exposes or possesses for sale, any weight or measure which,--
(a) does not conform to the standards of weight or measure specified by or under this Act; or
(b) which bears thereon any inscription of weight, measure or number which does not conform to the standards of weight, measure or numeration specified by or under this Act, except where he is permitted to do so under this Act, shall be punished with a fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees and for the second or subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.
(a) does not conform to the standards of weight or measure specified by or under this Act; or
(b) which bears thereon any inscription of weight, measure or number which does not conform to the standards of weight, measure or numeration specified by or under this Act, except where he is permitted to do so under this Act, shall be punished with a fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees and for the second or subsequent offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.
Section 28 Penalty for making any transaction, deal or contract in contravention of the prescribed standards.
Whoever makes any transaction, deal or contract in contravention of the standards of weights and measures specified under section 10 shall be punished with fine which may extend to 1[fifty thousand rupees and for the second offence with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees and for the third and subsequent offence with fine which may extend to two lakh rupees].
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2023, s. 2 and the Schedule for certain words (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 29 Penalty for quoting or publishing, etc., of non-standard units.
Whoever violates section 11 shall be punished with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees and, for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
Section 30 Penalty for transactions in contravention of standard weight or measure.
Whoever--
(a) in selling any article or thing by weight, measure or number, delivers or causes to be delivered to the purchaser any quantity or number of that article or thing less than the quantity or number contracted for or paid for; or
(b) in rendering any service by weight, measure or number, renders that service less than the service contracted for or paid for; or
(c) in buying any article or thing by weight, measure or number, fraudulently receives, or causes to be received any quantity or number of that article or thing in excess of the quantity or number contracted for or paid for; or
(d) in obtaining any service by weight, measure or number, obtains that service in excess of the service contracted for or paid for,
shall be punished with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, and, for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
(a) in selling any article or thing by weight, measure or number, delivers or causes to be delivered to the purchaser any quantity or number of that article or thing less than the quantity or number contracted for or paid for; or
(b) in rendering any service by weight, measure or number, renders that service less than the service contracted for or paid for; or
(c) in buying any article or thing by weight, measure or number, fraudulently receives, or causes to be received any quantity or number of that article or thing in excess of the quantity or number contracted for or paid for; or
(d) in obtaining any service by weight, measure or number, obtains that service in excess of the service contracted for or paid for,
shall be punished with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, and, for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
Section 31 Penalty for non-production of documents, etc.
Whoever, being required by or under this Act or the rules made thereunder to submit returns, maintain any record or register, or being required by the Director or the Controller or any legal metrology officer to produce before him for inspection any weight or measure or any document, register or other record relating thereto, omits or fails without any reasonable excuse, so to do, shall be punished with fine which may extend to 1[twenty-five thousand rupees and for the second offence with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and for the third and subsequent offence, with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees].
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2023, s. 2 and the Schedule for certain words (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 32 Penalty for failure to get model approved.
Whoever fails or omits to submit model of any weight or measure for approval, shall be punished with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees and for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and also with fine.
Section 33 Penalty for use of unverified weight or measure.
Whoever, sells, distributes, delivers or otherwise transfers or uses any unverified weight or measure shall be punished with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees but which may extend to ten thousand rupees and, for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and also with fine.
Section 34 Penalty for sale or delivery of commodities. etc., by non-standard weight or measure.
Whoever sells, or causes to be sold, delivers, or causes to be delivered, any commodity, article or thing by any means other than the standard weight or measure or number, shall be punished with 1[fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees and for the second offence with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and for the third and subsequent offence, with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees].
1. Subs. by Act 18 of 2023, s. 2 and the Schedule for certain words (w.e.f. 1-10-2023)
Section 35 Penalty for rendering services by non-standard weight, measure or number.
Whoever renders or causes to be rendered, any service through means other than the weight or measure or numeration or in terms of any weight, measure or number other than the standard weight or measure, shall be punished with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees but which may extend to five thousand rupees and for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
Section 36 Penalty for selling, etc., of non-standard packages.
(1) Whoever manufactures, packs, imports, sells, distributes, delivers or otherwise transfers, offers, exposes or possesses for sale, or causes to be sold, distributed, delivered or otherwise transferred, offered, exposed for sale any pre-packaged commodity which does not conform to the declarations on the package as provided in this Act, shall be punished with fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees, for the second offence, with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and for the subsequent offence, with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to one lakh rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with both.
(2) Whoever manufactures or packs or imports or causes to be manufactured or packed or imported, any pre-packaged commodity, with error in net quantity as may be prescribed shall be punished with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and for the second and subsequent offence, with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with both.
(2) Whoever manufactures or packs or imports or causes to be manufactured or packed or imported, any pre-packaged commodity, with error in net quantity as may be prescribed shall be punished with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and for the second and subsequent offence, with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with both.
Section 37 Penalty for contravention by Government approved Test Centre.
(1) Where any Government approved Test Centre contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, or the conditions of the licence, it shall be punished with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees.
(2) Where any owner or employee of a Government Approved Test Centre performing duties in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, wilfully verifies or stamps any weight or measure in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, he shall, for every such contravention, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both.
(2) Where any owner or employee of a Government Approved Test Centre performing duties in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, wilfully verifies or stamps any weight or measure in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, he shall, for every such contravention, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both.
Section 38 Penalty for non-registration by importer of weight or measure.
Whoever imports any weight or measure without being registered under this Act shall be punished with fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees and for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
Section 39 Penalty for import of non-standard weight or measure.
Whoever imports any non-standard weight or measure shall be punished with fine, which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year and also with fine.
Section 40 Penalty for obstructing Director, Controller or legal metrology officer.
Whoever obstructs the Director, the Controller or any legal metrology officer with intent to prevent or deter the Director or the Controller or any legal metrology officer from exercising his powers or discharging his functions, or in consequence of anything done or attempted to be done by the Director or the Controller or any legal metrology officer in the lawful exercise of his powers or discharge of his functions as such, or whoever obstructs the entry of the Director or the Controller or any legal metrology officer into any premises for inspection and verification of any weight or measure or any document or record relating thereto or the net contents of any packaged commodity or for any other purpose shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and for the second or subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years.