Role and Scope of Legal Metrology in Maharashtra
Introduction
The Legal Metrology Organization comes under the department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department, Govt. of Maharashtra, Mumbai
Right from pre-natal Stage up to the journey of heavenly abode everybody is closely related with weights & measures. The doctors keenly observe weight of expectant mother and accordingly medication is prescribed. After the birth of a child, weight of newborn infant is noted. This is a beginning of a human being, which goes hand in hand with legal metrology. In the pre-medieval era, we find standard prescribed for weights and measures. One is astonished to notice beweldering nature of the then weights and measures, which has an antique value in the present Century. Various standards in respect of weights and measures in Harrapann civilization stands a mile-stone in the history of urban civilization. The system of weights and measures is perpetual. Even at the time of Arya chanakya rigorous punishment was provided for defaulters who were giving short delivery.
Before Independence, we were ruled by Empire kingdom and they have formulated their own standards for weights and measures that are known as Imperial Standards consisting of seer (sher), pound, maunds(man), rattal, payali etc. After Independence, the Sovereign State of India felt it necessary to amend the existing regulations hence the Standards Act was enacted in the year 1956 and the State Act was passed in the year 1958 and was subsequently repealed by the Standards of Weights and Measures (Enf.) Act, 1985. Subject of Weights & Measures is in the concurrent list of the Constitution of India. Provisions pertaining to Weights and Measures are enacted by Central Government and State Government authority through the Legal Metrology Organization implements those provisions.
Legal Metrology plays an important role in Trade and Commerce and protection. It also helps to protect the interest of common consumer and society as a whole. The relevant Act & Rules are as under: -
- The Legal Metrology Act, 2009
- The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
- The Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011
- The Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011
- The Legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011
- The Legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2011
- The Maharashtra Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011
- Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011