The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has published the draft Jammu and Kashmir Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2025. These rules outline the procedures and regulations for the enforcement of legal metrology within the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Key Provisions of the New Draft Rules
The rules are applicable to the whole of Jammu and Kashmir. The custody and maintenance of Reference Standards will align with the Legal Metrology (National Standards) Rules, 2011. Secondary Standards must undergo verification at Reference Standards Laboratories at prescribed intervals and will be stamped or issued a verification certificate if found compliant. Their storage will be as directed by the Controller.
Working Standards will be verified at either Reference or Government-maintained Secondary Standards Laboratories at prescribed intervals and will be stamped or certified upon compliance. They will be under the custody of the Legal Metrology Officer.
Secondary Standard balances will be maintained where Secondary Standard Weights are kept, with specifications as per the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011. These balances must be verified annually. Working Standard balances will similarly be maintained where Working Standard Weights are kept and verified annually at locations with Secondary Standards.
All weights and measures used in transactions or for protection must conform to the physical characteristics, configuration, construction, materials, performance, and tolerances specified under the Act and the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011.
Transactions involving bullion, precious metals, pearls, and gold/silver ornaments are restricted to Bullion Weights. Precious stones can only be transacted using Carat Weights. Specific high-accuracy weighing instruments with dual displays and fine verification intervals are mandated for these transactions.
Except for commodities listed in Schedule-I, quantity in transactions must be declared by weight (for solids/semi-solids/viscous/mixtures), length (linear measure), area, volume (liquids/cubic measure), or number (if sold by count).
Manufacturers, repairers, and dealers of weights and measures must apply for licenses to the Controller Legal Metrology in specified forms. Renewal applications are required 30 days before expiry. Licenses are valid for a minimum of one year and renewable for 1-5 years upon fee payment. Specific fees apply for alterations or duplicate licenses, with late fees for delayed renewals. A register of licensees will be maintained. Licensees must maintain workshops, equipment, and registers as per license terms. Licenses are non-transferable.
The Controller can suspend licenses based on incorrect statements or contraventions of the Act/rules, providing an opportunity for explanation. Suspensions are vacated if inquiries aren’t completed within three months. Licenses can be cancelled after inquiry for false statements or contraventions, again with an opportunity for explanation. Suspended licensees must cease operations and surrender their licenses. Cancelled licensees have a limited time to dispose of their stock.
Licensed manufacturers, repairers, and dealers must maintain records and registers in specified forms and submit required reports/returns.
Weights and measures used in transactions or for protection must be verified and stamped by the Legal Metrology Officer upon fee payment and re-verified at intervals prescribed under the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011. Re-verification is also required if a stamped in-situ weight/measure is dismantled and re-installed or if a stamped weight/measure is repaired before its due re-verification date.
Users must present weights/measures for verification/re-verification at designated locations before the due date. For immovable weights/measures, advance notice is required. Legal Metrology Officers will inspect and test weights/measures within their jurisdiction. Stamps on weights/measures due for re-verification or not conforming to standards will be obliterated, with a provision for users to rectify minor defects before obliteration.
Compliant weights/measures will be stamped with a uniform design indicating the Legal Metrology Officer’s administrative number and, where practicable, the year and quarter of stamping.
Duly verified and stamped weights/measures are deemed compliant throughout J&K unless found otherwise upon inspection or verification. Re-stamping is not required solely due to a change in the place of use within J&K, except if an in-situ weight/measure is dismantled and re-installed or if a verified weight/measure is repaired before its due re-verification.
Beam scales in transactions must be suspended. Weights/measures must be used in clean conditions with proper lighting. Users must maintain verified weights equal to one-tenth of their weighing instrument’s capacity (up to one tonne) for accuracy checks. Petrol/diesel pump dealers must maintain verified measures for daily output checks and halt delivery for short delivery, informing the Legal Metrology Officer for recalibration.
The certificate of verification must be kept in physical or digital form where the verified weights or measures are being used.
Contravention of these rules, where no specific penalty is defined in the Act, can result in a fine up to five thousand rupees. In case of conflict, the provisions of the Act will prevail over the rules.
