• The government has drafted new rules requiring testing, verification and stamping of all domestic, commercial, and industrial gas meters before they can be used in trade.

• The proposed regulations under the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011 aim to ensure accuracy and reliability in gas measurement, preventing billing disputes and protecting consumers from faulty devices.

• Verified and stamped gas meters will prevent overcharging or under-measurement, reduce disputes and provide guaranteed protection to consumers against faulty or manipulated devices.

• Consumers will benefit through fair billing, improved energy efficiency and reduced maintenance costs from standardised equipment.

• The draft rules include provisions for re-verification of meters in use and establish a compliance framework for manufacturers and distribution companies aligned with International Organization of Legal Metrology standards.

How were these rules drafted?

• The Legal Metrology Division of the Department of Consumer Affairs has followed a thorough and inclusive consultative process to draft these rules. 

• A technical committee consisting of representatives from the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology (IILM), Regional Reference Standard Laboratories (RRSLs), industry experts and Voluntary Consumer Organizations (VCOs) was constituted to frame the draft. 

• Simultaneously, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was engaged to examine the draft and provide scientific and technical inputs.

• Draft rules were widely circulated among stakeholders, including manufacturers, testing laboratories, City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies and State Legal Metrology Departments.

• A transitional period will allow industry and authorities time to prepare for implementation without disrupting gas supply or burdening consumers or businesses.

Legal metrology laws

• Legal metrology (weights and measures) laws form the basis of commercial transactions in any civilised society.

• Metrology is the science of measurement and its application.

• Precision and accuracy in measurement plays a very vital role in day to day life. 

A transparent and efficient legal metrology system inspires confidence in trade, industry and consumer and brings harmonious environment for conducting business by way of:

i) Contribution to the economy of the country by increasing the revenue in various sectors. 

ii) Playing important role in reducing the revenue losses in the coal, mines, industries, petroleum and railways.

iii) Reduction of the loss and wastage in the infrastructure sector.

• The work performed by the legal metrology therefore, is vital to the public interest. 

• ‘Pre-packaged commodity’ is defined under the Act as, “a commodity which without the purchaser being present is placed in a package of whatever nature, whether sealed or not, so that the product contained therein has a pre-determined quantity”.

• To ensure accuracy of measurement in such transactions, the government has enacted legislation namely, the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 . It is a unified Act of two repealed acts namely the Standards of Weights & Measures Act, 1976 & the Standards of Weights & Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985. 

• The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 has come into force with effect from April 1, 2011. Rules have been formulated for better implementation of the Act.

• The government ensures through the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 that all weights and measures used for transaction and protection are accurate and reliable so that users are guaranteed for correct weighment and measurement. This in turn enables the consumer to get the right quantity for which he/she has paid for.

• The central government has made seven rules for the better implementation of the Act. 

• The state governments have also framed their Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules. 

The following Legal Metrology Rules have been framed under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 for protection of consumer interest:

1) The Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011

2) The Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011

3) The Legal Metrology (Approval of Models) Rules, 2011

4) The Legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011

5) The Legal Metrology (Numeration) Rules, 2011

6) The Indian Institute of Legal Metrology Rules, 2011

7) The Legal Metrology (Government Approved Test Centre) Rules, 2013.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)