Legal Metrology Department
Legal Metrology Department
The Weights and Measures Department was renamed according to the OIML, located in Paris, (International Organization for Legal Metrology) instruction as Legal Metrology Department. The Department is working under Food & Consumer Affairs ministry.
Definition of Legal Metrology
Legal metrology comprises all activities for which legal requirements are prescribed on measurement, units of measurement, measuring instruments and methods of measurement, these activities being performed by or on behalf of governmental authorities, in order to ensure an appropriate level of credibility of measurement results in the national regulatory environment.
Government of Kerala
Kerala is a state in the Union of India. The Legal Metrology Department was formed in 1961 and Mr Adoor Prakash is the minister (Legal Metrology, Coir).
Official website
The periodical verification and stamping of weight and measures; licensing of dealers, repairing and manufacturing of weights and measures; registration of users of weights; and prosecution of offenders are the basic duties of the Department of Legal Metrology.
Legal Metrology's motto : No less no more, but just exact.
International System of Units
International System of Units
If people of every region use a different unit for weighing, the trade between these two regions will create problems. Now a days inter continental trade is common and the use of a common unit in measurement become essential.
SI (System International) presctibe the unit and it's symbol for international use.
Lenth, mass, time, temperature, volume etc are considered to be basic quantities. The standard unit for the measurement with it's symbol in bracket are
Length : metre (m)
Mass : gram (g)
Time : second (s)
Temperature : kelvin (K) also degree celcius (°C)
Volume : litre (l)
Units are always written singular. There is not dot after the unit symbol. One character space is provided between numeral and unit or it's symbol. Unit with the name of a scientist is always written in lowercase, while the symbol will be in Uppercase.
Eg :
Force : newton (N)
Energy : joule (J)
Power : watt (W)
Voltage : volt (V)
Current : ampere (A)
Prefixes permitted to use with standard symbols are
c - centi (10 ^-2)
m - milli (10 ^-3)
k - kilo (10 ^3)
M - mega (10 ^6)
Prefixes are helpful to write large and small measurements convienently.
Eg :
1,000 m = 1 km
1,000 ml = 1 l
11,000 V = 11 kV
1,000 mg = 1 g
1, 000 kg= 1 t (t, symbol for ton)
Length and Area conversion
Length
1 mile = 1.609 km
1 yard = 0.9144 m
1 foot = 0.3048 m
1 inch = 25.4 mm
1 km = 0.6214 mile
1 m = 1.0936 yard
1 m = 3.2808 feet
1 mm = 0.0394 inch
Area
1 sq. mile = 2.59 km2
1 acre = 0.4047 hectare
1 acre = 4046.86 m2
1 sq. yard = 0.8361 m2
1 sq. foot = 0.0929 m2
1 sq. inch = 645.16 mm2
1 km2 = 0.3861 mile2
1 km2 = 247.105 acre
1 hectares = 2.4711 acre
1 m2 = 10.7639 feet2
1 mm2 = 0.0016 inch2
Volume, weight and temperature conversion
Volume
1 gallon = 4.5461 litre
1 US gallon = 3.785 litre
1 pint = 0.5683 litre
1 cu. inch = 16.3871 cm3
1 litre = 0.22 gal
1 litre = 0.2642 US gal
1 litre = 1.7598 pint
1 m3 = 219.969 gal
1 m3 = 35.3147 feet3
Weight
1 ton = 1.016 tonne
1 lb = 0.4536 kg
1 oz = 28.3495 g
1 US ton = 0.9072 tonne
1 tonne = 0.9842 ton
1 tonne = 1.1023 US ton
1 kg = 2.2046 lb
1 kg = 35.274 oz
http://www.thecultureconcept.com/cir...d-necklace.jpg
Queen Victoria's diamond necklace. The largest diamond weighs 11.25 carat (1 Carat = 0.2 gram).
Temperature conversion
deg. F= deg. C x 9/5 + 32
Other Standard and Derived units
Luminous intensity : candela
Molar volume : mol (mole)
Pressure : newton (N)
Kerala Legal Metrology Department
Kerala Legal Metrology Department Pay revision 2010
Designation, No of posts, Present scale of pay & proposed pay scale
Controller 1 20700-26600 40640-54140
Deputy Controller 3 13610-20700 24040-36140
Assistant Controller 28 12250-19800 21240-34500 1/4th of posts will be in HG on Rs.24040-36140.
Senior Inspector(HG) 3 11910-19350 20740-33650 20% of the posts will be in
Senior Inspector 15 10790-18000 18740-31360 the HG.
Technical Assistant 1 8390-13270 14620-23480
Inspector 83 8390-13270 16180-27140
Inspecting Assistant 112 5650-8790 9940-15380 : The existing ratio of HG will be modified as 1:1 in the scale of Rs.10480-17420.
Senior Superintendent 1 10790-18000 18740-31360
Junior Superintendent 2 9190-15510 16180-27140
Head Clerk 3 8390-13270 14620-23480
UD Clerk 28 6680-10790 13210-20740
UD Typist 1 6680-10790 13210-20740
LD Clerk 15 5250-8390 9940-15380
Confidential Asst. 1 6080-9830 10480-17420
LD Typist 2 5250-8390 9940-15380
LD Clerk/Typist 14 5250-8390 9940-15380
Class IV Employee Gr. II 89 4510-6230 8500-12220
Attender 1 4630-7000 8730-12550
Driver 29 5250-8390 9190-14620
Full Time Watcher 57 4510-6230 8500-12220
Full Time Watcher-cum-Sweeper 6 4510-6230 8500-12220
Law Officer 1 12930-20250 22360-35320
New Act & Rules for Legal Metrology
The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 has been passed by the Parliament of India on January 13, 2010. The related rules are
- The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
- The Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011
- The legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011
- The legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2011
- The Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011
- The Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011
The new Act & Rules will replace the old Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and Standards of Weights and Measures (Enf) Act, 1985.
Salient features
1. The new Act stresses the importance of the usage of standard unit and symbols - like kilogram (kg), carat (c), milligram (mg), litre (l), tonne (t), metre (m) etc.
2. Manufacturing, selling or importing pre-packaged commodities without mandatory declarations as per rule 6 of LM (PC) Rules, 2011 - Sec 18(1) r/w 36(1) Fine of Rs 25,000 for the first offense. Fine upto Rs 50,000 for 2nd offense and Rs. 50,000 to 1,00,000 for subsequent offense and or 1 year imprisonment.
3. A manufacturer may repair his own weight or measure in a state where he holds no license.
4. Appointment of Government approved Test Centers for verification of weights and measures.
Consumer Protection is the main motto of Legal Metrology Department.
Packaged Commodities Rules 2011
The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
Packages leaving the manufacturers' premises require all the mandatory declarations.
Stickers not to be used for making mandatory declarations on a package - rule 6(3).
Homeopathy, Unani, Sidha, Ayurvedic medicine packages are covered by this rules.
Allowing the companies to nominate a person who will be held responsible for breach of provisions of the Act, simplified definition of Packaged Commodity and more stringent punishment for violation of provisions.
Nomination by the director of a firm
(rule 29 of Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011)
A company may inform the Director or the concerned Controller or his authorized officer, by notice in duplicate, containing the name and address of the Director, who has been nominated by it under sub-section (2) of Section 49 of the Act to be in-charge of and responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company or any establishment, branch or unit thereof.
The nomination will not be valid unless the Director who has been so nominated, gives his consent in writing and has affixed his signature, in duplicate in token of such consent.
Penalty
Rule 27 to 31 r/w rule 32(1) : Any one who pre-packs or imports any commodity for sale is required to be registered within 30 days of commencement of pre-packing or importing. Fine of Rs 4000.
Other rule violation r/w 32(2) : Fine of Rs 2000
Packer Registration fee Rs 500. Amendment fee Rs 100.
The Legal Metrology Act, 2009
The Legal Metrology Act, 2009
Sec 7 r/w 25 : Using or keeping for use of any w/m not in standard unit : Rs 25,000/6 months
Sec 8 r/w 27 : Manufacturing or selling non-standard w/m : Rs. 20,000/ 3 years.
Sec 10 r/w 28 : Transaction by not using prescribed w/m as specified in Sch I (Specific Commodities has to be packed in weight/volume/number) : Rs.10,000/ 1 year.
Sec 11 r/w 29 : Making expression, quotation, advertisement or document in non-standard units : Rs 10,000 / 1 year.
Sec 15 r/w 40 : Obstructing Officers of Legal Metrology from discharging official duties : 2 years/ 5 years (2nd offence)
Sec 17 r/w 31 : non production of any w/m, records, registers by M/D/R etc : up to 5,000/ 1 year.
Section 18 (1) r/w 36(1) : It shall be illegal to manufacture, pack, sell, import, distribute, deliver, offer, expose or possess for sale any pre-packaged commodity unless the package is in such standard quantities or number and bears thereon such declarations and particulars in such manner as may be prescribed : Fine of Rs 25000/up to 50000/50000 to 1 lakh or 1 year imprisonment or both.
Sec 18 (1) r/w 36(2) : Manufacturing, selling or importing pre-packaged commodities with error in net quantity beyond prescribed limit : Rs 10,000 to 50,000/1,00,000 or 1 year imprisonment or both.
Sec 19 r/w 38 : Importing w/m without registration : Rs. 25,000/6 months
Sec 20 r/w 39 : Importing non-standard w/m : Rs. 25,000 to Rs 50000/ 6 months
Sec 22 r/w 32 : Failure to seek model approval before manufacturing or importing w/m : Rs 25,000/1 year
Sec 23(1) r/w 45 : Manufacturing w/m without valid licence : Rs 20,000/1 year
Sec 23(1) r/w 46 : Selling or repairing w/m without valid licence : up to Rs 5,000/1 year.
Sec 24 r/w 33 : Selling or using un-verified w/m : Rs. 2,000 to 10,000 / 1 year.
Sec 26 : Tampering of any w/m for deceiving : Rs 50,000/ 6-12 months
Sec 30 : Receiving less quantity in a contract/sale : up to Rs 10,000.
Sec 37(1) : Contravention by Test Centres : Rs.1,00,000
Sec 37(2) : Willful verification or stamping w/m in contravention of the Act by owner or employee of Test Centres : 1 year.
Sec 47 : Tampering of license : Rs. 5,000 to 20,000 /1 year
The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011
Rule 6 : Pre-packed Commodity for sale, distribution or delivery must bear thereon or on a label securely affixed thereto, the following declarations -
* the name and address of the manufacturer, or where the manufacturer is not the packer, the name and address of the manufacturer and packer and for any imported package the name and address of the importer.
* The name, address, telephone number, e mail address, if available, of the person who can be or the office which can be, contacted, in case of consumer complaints.
* the common or generic names of the commodity contained in the package and in case of packages with more than one product, the name and number or quantity of each product.
* the net quantity, in terms of the standard unit of weight or measure, of the commodity contained in the package or where the commodity is packed or sold by number, the number of the commodity contained in the package;
* the month and year in which the commodity is manufactured or pre-packed or imported.
* the retail sale price of the package
* where the sizes of the commodity contained in the package are relevant, the dimensions of the commodity contained in the package and if the dimensions of the different pieces are different ,the dimensions of each such different piece.
Rule 6(3): It shall not be permissible to affix individual stickers.
Rule 18(1) : No wholesale dealer or retail dealer or importer shall sell, distribute, deliver, display or store for sale any commodity in the packaged form unless the package complies with, in all respects, the provisions of the Act and these rules.
Rule 18 (6) : 1g class III balance with print facility in Shops leving VAT/TOT
The Legal Metrology Act, 2009
The Legal Metrology Act, 2009
Offences and Penalties
Sec 25 : Penalty for use of non standard wt/measure : up to Rs 25000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 27 : Penalty for manufacture use of non standard wt/measure : up to Rs 20000/ 3 year + or fine.
Sec 28 : Penalty for dealing non standard contravention to that specified in Sch I (certain commodities to be sold by wt/measure/no) : up to Rs 10000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 29 : Penalty for quoting/publishing non standard unit : up to Rs 10000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 30 : Penalty for Less than the quantity or number contracted for : up to Rs 10000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 31 : Penalty for non production of w/m or records : up to Rs 5000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 32 : Penalty for failure to get model approval : up to Rs 25000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 33 : Penalty for the use of unverifiied w/m : Rs 2000 to Rs 10000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 34 : Penalty for the sale of non standard size packages : Rs 2000 to Rs 5000/ 3 months to 1 year + or fine.
Sec 35 : Penalty for rendering any service non standard w/m or number : Rs 2000 to Rs 5000/ 3 months to 1 year + or fine.
Sec 36 (1) : Penalty for selling non standard packages : up to Rs 25,000/up to Rs 50,000/Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh and or 1 year.
Sec 36 (2) : Penalty for packing/importing pre-packaged commodity with error in net content : Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000/up to Rs 1 lakh and or 1 year.
Sec 38 : Penalty for non registration by importer of w/m : up to Rs 25000/ 6 months + or fine.
Sec 39 : Penalty for import of non standard of w/m : up to Rs 50000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 40 : Penalty for obstruction : 2 year/5 year
Sec 41(1) : Penalty for giving false information : up to Rs 5000/6 months + or fine.
Sec 41(2) : Penalty for giving false returns : up to Rs 5000/1 year + or fine.
Sec 45 : Penalty for manufacture w/m w/o license : up to Rs 20000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 46 : Penalty for sale/repair of w/m w/o license : up to Rs 5000/ 1 year + or fine.
Sec 47 : Penalty for tampering with license : up to Rs 20000/ 1 year + or fine.
Contact Kerala Legal Metrology
1. Controller Legal Metrology, Controller Office, Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram-695033, Phone-0471-2305996
2. Assistant Controller (HQ)-do, Phone-0471-2303821
3. Deputy Controller, South Zone, Soorya Nagar, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram-695002, Phone-0471-2346058
4. Assistant Controller (FS), Thiruvananthapuram- do
5. Assistant Controller, Thiruvananthapuram -do
6. Assistant Controller (FS), Kollam-KMC 3/408, Prathibha Junction, Kadappakkada, Kollam, Phone-0474-2745631
7. Assistant Controller, Kollam- do
8. Assistant Controller (FS)-Pathanamthitta-Pettah, Pathanamthitta-685645, Phone-0468-2322853
9. Assistant Controller, Pathanamthitta- do
10. Assistant Controller (FS), Alappuzha-Kaichundi, Kalarikkal Junction-688013, Phone-0477-2234647
11. Assistant Controller, Alappuzha- do
12. Deputy Controller-Central Zone-Legal Metrology Bhavan, Kakkanadu, Ernakulam-682030, Phone-0484-2423180
13. Assistant Controller (FS), Ernakulam District- do
14. Assistant Controller- do
15. Assistant Controller (Net Content)- do
16. Assistant Controller (Central Lab)- do
17. Assistant Controller (FS), Kottayam-Mini Civil Station, Kottayam-686001, Phone-0481-2582998
18. Assistant Controller, Kottayam- do
19. Assistant Controller, Idukki-Muthalakkodam Post, Thodupuzha-685605, Phone-0486-2222638
20. Assistant Controller (FS)-Trissur-Legal Metrology Bhavan-Olarikkara Post, Thrissur-682012, Phone-0487-2250996
21. Assistant Controller -Trissur- do
22. Assistant Controller (FS)-Palakkad-19/375, West Yakkara H.P.O, Palakkad-678009, Phone-0491-2535468
23. Assistant Controller -Palakkad- do
24. Deputy Controller-North Zone-Civil Station-Kozhikode-673020, Phone-0495-2371897
25. Assistant Controller, Kozhikode - do
26. Assistant Controller (FS)- do, Phone-0495-2371757
27. Assistant Controller (FS)-Malappuram-Mini Civil Station, Manjeri-676123, Phone-0483-2766157
28. Assistant Controller -Malappuram- do
29. Assistant Controller- Wyanad District-Muncipal Building, Kalpetta-673121, Phone-0493-6203370
30. Assistant Controller –Kannur-Highway Junction, Chirakkal Post-670011, Phone-0497-2776560
31. Assistant Controller (FS) –Kannur- do
32. Assistant Controller –Kasaragod-Civil Station, Vidhya Nagar Post-671123, Phone-0499-4256228
The Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2011
The Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2011 (Draft)
The following 9 items will be verified and stamped by Government Approved Test Centres wef from 1 Jan 2012.
1. Measuring system for liquids other than water
2. Water meter
3. Electricity meter
4. Sphygmomanometer
5. Clinical thermometer
6. Glucometer
7. Compressed Natural Gas dispenser
8. Weigh bridges
9. Automatic rail weigh bridges
Government has invited application for GATC at a fee of Rs 10,000 per type of measuring instrument. The license issued for an initial period of 2 years. GATC has to follow the Act and rules framed by the government. It has to verify and stamp (using punches issued) the Weights & measures by collecting prescribed stamping fee and issue a certificate of verification. Immovable items are done insitu free of cost. Licesee has to get trained in NPL New Delhi/IILM Ranchi/Fluid Control Research Institute (FCRI), Palakkad.
FCRI, Palakkad has provided authorized and reliable third party certification with traceability to National / International Standards, assisted industries in testing and calibration of flow products, development of special products and getting ISO 9000 certification.
37. Penalty for contravention by Government approved Test Centre. - (1) Where any Governent approved Test Centre contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made there under, 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 there under, willfully 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.
Peg - unit of measurement
Peg is an informal unit of measurement of alcoholic spirits (60 ml). Peg measures for use in preparing alcoholic drinks can hold anywhere from 1 to 2 fluid ounces (30-60 ml).
The National Physical Laboratory of India
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the measurement Standards laboratory in India, which calibrates National Standards of weights and measures. It is involved in research and assist industries, national & other agencies for the development of high precision measuring devices. NPL is under CSIR and was formed on January 4, 1947 with Dr. K. S. Krishnan as the first Director.
The National Physical Laboratory is the premier research laboratory in India in the field of physical sciences. It has developed core competencies in standards, apex level calibration, engineering materials, electronic materials, materials characterization, radio and space physics, global change and environmental studies, low temperature physics, and instrumentation.
NPL Campus is 21 km from the Indira Gandhi International Airport and 6.5 km from the New Delhi Railway Station.
National Physical Laboratory
Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg
New Delhi - 110012
Phone: 91-11-45609212, 91-11-25742610, 91-11-25742611, 91-11-25742612
Fax: 91-11-45609310, 91-11-25726938.
