The Dept of Legal Metrology, formerly known as the Weights & Measures Dept, was established in Jammu & Kashmir in 1961. Its main purpose was to implement the metric system in trade and commerce in alignment with the national metric policy. In 2005, the Dept name was changed from Weights & Measures to Legal Metrology. Initially, it was under the administrative control of the Revenue Dept, but in 2003, it was transferred to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution. In 2016, this ministry was renamed the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Dept.
Organizational Structure
The Dept operates under the administrative supervision of the Commissioner/Secretary of the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS & CA) Dept. The Controller heads the Dept, supported by a team of officials that includes the Joint Controller, Deputy Controllers, Assistant Controllers, Inspectors of Legal Metrology, and Manual Assistants. The officers and staff work under the guidance of the Controller to ensure efficient enforcement of legal metrology regulations.
Objectives and Functions
The Legal Metrology Dept primarily focuses on consumer protection. It plays a crucial role in regulating the market by conducting inspections to prevent unfair trade practices related to weights and measures, packaged goods, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The Dept ensures businesses use accurate weighing and measuring instruments in production, trade, and commerce. This guarantees that customers receive the correct weight, measure, or quantity of products as per their purchase agreement.
Additionally, the Dept ensures that packaged products have all necessary details, such as:
- Name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or importer
- Month and year of manufacturing or packaging
- Generic name of the product
- Net weight, volume, or quantity
- Maximum Retail Price (MRP), including all taxes
- Customer care contact details, including the name, address, and telephone number of the responsible office
- Size details, if applicable
Key Responsibilities
The Dept carries out inspections and verification procedures for various measuring and weighing devices used in commercial transactions. Some of its key functions include:
- Verification of auto-rickshaw and taxi fare meters to ensure passengers are charged correctly.
- Inspection of fuel dispensing units at petrol pumps to check for accuracy.
- Checking LPG bottling plants and retail outlets to prevent illegal diversions of domestic cylinders for commercial use.
- Conducting surprise market inspections, including visits to fair price shops, kerosene depots, gas agencies, and petrol pumps, to verify the accuracy of weighing and measuring instruments.
- Addressing consumer complaints about incorrect measurements or overpricing while maintaining the complainant’s privacy.
- Conducting awareness programs, seminars, and workshops in schools, colleges, and public places to educate consumers about their rights.
- Organizing special awareness sessions for traders and businesses to help them understand legal metrology regulations and compliance requirements.
- Distributing informational materials to the general public to enhance consumer awareness.
Services Offered to Citizens of Jammu & Kashmir
The Legal Metrology Dept provides a range of services to the people of Jammu & Kashmir. These include:
- Verification and Stamping – Ensuring commercial establishments use properly calibrated and verified weighing and measuring instruments.
- Verification of Auto/Taxi Fare Meters – Checking and certifying fare meters used in public transport vehicles.
- Inspection of Weighbridges – Examining and verifying weighbridges used for measuring bulk commodities.
- Calibration of Tank Lorries and Flow Meters – Ensuring accurate measurement during the transportation of petroleum products.
- Inspection of Petrol Pump Dispensing Units – Sealing and verifying fuel dispensing machines to prevent discrepancies.
- LPG Content Verification – Checking the actual weight of LPG cylinders at bottling plants and retail outlets.
- Issuance of Licenses – Granting licenses to manufacturers, repairers, and dealers of weighing and measuring instruments.
- Registration of Packers, Manufacturers, and Importers – Maintaining records of businesses involved in packaging, manufacturing, and importing packaged goods.
- Market Inspections and Prosecutions – Conducting inspections to identify and take action against businesses violating weights and measures laws.
- Checking Packaged Commodities – Ensuring that packaged products display mandatory details, including, Name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or importer, Net contents (weight, volume, or number), Date of manufacture, packaging, or import, Maximum Retail Price (MRP), inclusive of all taxes, Generic name of the product, Customer care contact information, Size details, if applicable
- Prevention of Overpricing – Ensuring that commercial establishments do not charge more than the MRP for packaged commodities.
Consumer Rights Protection
To further safeguard consumer interests, the Dept takes legal action against businesses that engage in unfair trade practices, such as using non-standard or defective weighing and measuring instruments. Complaints from consumers, whether received in writing or via telephone, are taken seriously, and strict action is initiated against offenders under the relevant laws.
Additionally, the Dept works to ensure that LPG distributors provide home delivery services to consumers. Routine checks at retail outlets help prevent black marketing and unauthorized diversions.
Public Awareness and Education
A key aspect of the Dept. work is consumer education. It conducts awareness campaigns, distributes educational materials, and organizes workshops to help people understand their rights as consumers. The Dept also collaborates with trade associations to ensure compliance with legal metrology regulations.
By enforcing accurate measurement standards, the Legal Metrology Dept of Jammu & Kashmir plays a vital role in maintaining fairness in trade and protecting consumer rights. Its regular inspections, legal actions, and educational programs contribute to a transparent and reliable marketplace where consumers can trust that they are receiving the correct quantity and price for their purchases.
