Question : PURCHASE OF STANDARDS OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

(a) whether the State Governments are bound to purchase the standard of weights and measures only from the Government of India mint at Mumbai;

(b) if so, whether the supplies from the said mint are subject to long delays forcing a number of offices of Inspectors of legal metrology to operate without proper standards;

(c) if so, whether the Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985 provides for private manufacturers to make standards of weight and measures as per specified rules;

(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to permit the private manufacturers to produce the said standards; and

(e) if so, by when they are likely to be accorded the permission for producing the said standards?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI TASLIMUDDIN)

(a): Yes Sir,.

(b): No delay has been reported in the supply of standards to States and Union Territories by the mint at Mumbai.

(c) to (e): The proviso to section 13 of the said Act provides that in case the mint intimates the States Government in writing that it is unable to prepare any secondary standard or working standard, then the Government may cause such secondary standard or working standard to be prepared by such organization as the Central Government may, on a reference made to it by the State Government, by notification, specify in this behalf. However, the mint at Mumbai has enough capacity to manufacture quality weights and measures standards within the stipulated time frame.

Moreover, this being a statutory function related to Legal Metrology, which critically affects consumer’s welfare and interest, there is no reason and advantage in sourcing standards from private parties.