SHILLONG: Days after a ‘salt emergency’ hit the State, the Legal Metrology Department (formerly known as Weights and Measures department) has issued a deadline to all the traders, dealers, retailers, manufacturers, importers, packers and wholesale dealers operating in the State to adhere to the complete mandatory declarations of MRP as well as possessing the verification certificate as prescribed under the Legal Metrology Rules, 2011 within three months.
A statement issued by the Controller of Legal Metrology IW Ingty here on Tuesday stated that certain commodities are being sold in the open market by traders beyond the Maximum Retail Price (inclusive of all taxes) and even without complete mandatory declarations as prescribed under the Legal Metrology Rules, 2011.
The sudden increase in the price of salt which sent shock waves across the State recently, proved to be a wake-up call for the department, which has now decided to ensure strict adherence to rules to ease the burden of the consumers in the State.
“There have been many instances where traders have taken advantage of rumours or the festive seasons and sold their commodities at a price which is beyond the Maximum Retail Price which is a violation of Rule 18 (2) of the Legal Metrology Rules, 2011,” Ingty said.
In line with this, the department has instructed all the traders, manufacturers and the likes to follow the rules by possessing the complete mandatory declarations within three months failing of which, punishment as per provisions of the said Rules will be meted out to the offenders.
According to statistics available with the Department for the year 2012, as many as 105 cases were detected under the Package Commodities Rules, 2011 and 176 other cases under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the total amount of revenue generated as fine or penalty in 2012 amounted to Rs 3,56,400 while the annual revenue generated from verification fees (Stamping) amounted to Rs 35 lakh.
Stressing on the need to empower the consumers, Ingty said that the people need to be aware of the provisions of the Legal Metrology Rules and Act, thereby giving them a fair chance to fight for their right and to curb down the increasing rates of cheating cases happening in and around the State, especially during peak seasons.
Meanwhile, when asked about the number of complaints received by the department in this connection, Assistant Controller of Legal Metrology, A Rangslang, informed that they have been receiving very less complaints from the consumers while citing reasons like shyness among the consumer to raise question, lack of evidences, contentment among the consumers with the market even though lapses are visible and lack of publicity to make the people aware of the rules and provision under the Legal Metrology Act.
Elaborating on the requirements for users of package commodity and weight and measures for transaction and protection, Rangslang said that all packaged commodities must have an MRP, adding that industries, factories, mills operating in the State need to be registered as manufacturer or packer with the office of the Controller of Legal Metrology and they should conform to norms prescribed under the Package Commodities Rules and verification and stamping of all weights and measures being used for transaction or protection has to be done by the department.
As far as kerosene oil dealers or sub dealers are concerned, the department is concerned only with the correct and accurate delivery where the dealers are also required to keep capacity measures duly verified by the department.
Commenting on the steps that can be adopted to curb down cheating cases in the market, Ingty said that traditional heads have a big role to play in checking this menace. One step could be by checking the entry of flying traders and keeping a weighing instrument in place approved by the department to check that the commodity brought into the village by these traders are measured accurately.
“There are instances when these flying traders who usually use a spring balance or a beam scale weighting instrument cheat the customers as the instrument can be easily manipulated by the trader,” Ingty added.
Further, Ingty said that the consumers can contact the office of the Legal Metrology for any complaint in this regard or with regard to any complaint under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011 at these numbers – 0364-2222576 and 2221537 or through email at [email protected]
Manufacturers, packers, retailers
who have to ensure display
of MRP on goods
Gas AgenciesMeat sellers
Govt. fair price shops
Govt. rice wholesalers
Weighbridges
Grocery stores
Stationery shops
Auto spare parts shops,
Cement dealers
Fish, dry fish sellers
Hardwares,
Garment shops
Mobile shops
Jewellery shops
Vegetable vendors
Shoe stores
Dispensing Units
(petrol pumps)