Implement revised Legal Metrology Act and help consumers.
A revised Weights and Measures Act that concerns the application of measurement science to manufacturing and other processes and their use in society, ensuring the suitability of measurement instruments, their calibration and quality control of measurements has come into effect in the form of The Legal Metrology Act 2009 from 14th January 2010. This revised Act replaces The Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and the Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985. Now, with the amended Legal Metrology Act of 2009 and now with The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 having come into effect. Following few new rules have been brought into effect as regulatory requirements of measurements and measuring instruments for the protection of health, public safety, the environment, enabling taxation, protection of consumers and fair trade:
(a) Appointment of Government approved Test Centers for verification of weights and measures;
(b) Allows companies to nominate a responsible person who can be named as responsible for the breach of provisions of the Act and intimate the same to the Controller of Weights and Measures and
(c) Definitions of packaged commodities have been simplified and more stringent punishments for violation of provisions of the Act have been prescribed. This includes the services of autorickshaws that are hired by consumers.
(d) The Act has also laid down that the size of the font regarding information pertaining to the commodity meant for the consumer should be the same as the advertisement font on the packages and should not be in fine print that cannot be read.
Mysore Grahakara Parishath has been regularly pointing out various malpractices being adopted by the trading community for profit through widespread adulteration of consumables particularly food articles, tampered weights and measures equipments, deficiency in services being rendered by the service providers etc. Now, with the amended Legal Metrology Act of 2009 and The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011, it is hoped that the authorities concerned will implement these acts and rules there under with all the sincerity and integrity and help people to an improved systemic consumer care in the community. It is also hoped that concerned authorities in the Food, Transport, Legal Metrology and other Departments will become proactive and redress the grievances of the people who are being taken for a ride every day in every sphere of their daily life.
All these days fingers were being pointed at each other by the RTO, Weights and Measures and Police when public complained against demanding illegal fares (according to Auto-men, their minimum rate is Rs.20/- even though the Government has fixed Rs.15 as minimum). Now that the Legal Metrology department has been directly enabled with the provisions for implementation of The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011, it must undertake a crash drive against faulty/tampered/recalibrated Auto meters, subject them to tests, confiscate them if they are faulty, suspend renewal of their license unless their meters are set right; ensure fixing of electronic meters for new/renewed licensees/autos brought into Mysore city from other States and ensure a safe and secure alternate public transport facility for the citizens of Mysore and to help millions of tourists who throng the Heritage City of Mysore.
