Chapter II Chapter II

Standard weights and measures

Working standards.—(1) For the purpose of verifying the correctness of commercial weights and measures and weighing and measuring instruments used in transactions for trade, business or commerce, the Government may cause to be prepared as many sets as they may deem necessary of authenticated standard weights and measures to be called the working standards.

1. (2) The working standards shall be made of such material and according to such designs and specifications and shall be prepared by such agency and shall be stamped and authenticated by such person or authority and in such manner as may be prescribed.
2. (3) The working standards shall be kept at such places, in such custody and in such manner as may be prescribed.
3. (4) A working standard shall be verified with the secondary standard prepared under sub-section
4. (1) of section 4 and marked by such persons, at such places, at such intervals and in such manner as may be prescribed.
5. (5) A working standard which is not so verified and marked at the prescribed intervals shall not be deemed legal or be used for the purposes of this Act.
6. (6) A working standard which has become defective shall not be deemed legal or be used for the purposes of this Act, until it has been verified and marked in the prescribed manner.

Secondary standards.—(1) For the purpose of verifying the correctness of the working standards, the Government may cause to be prepared at the Mint as many sets as they may deem necessary of authenticated standard weights and measures to be called the secondary standards.

1. (2) The secondary standards shall be made of such material and, according to such designs and specifications as may be prescribed and shall be stamped and authenticated by such persons or authority and in such manner as may be prescribed.
2. (3) The secondary standards shall be kept at such places, in such custody and in such manner as may be prescribed.
3. (4) A secondary standard shall be verified with the reference standard at least once in every period of five years and shall be marked with the date of verification by such person or authority and in such manner as may be prescribed.
4. (5) A secondary standard which is not so verified and marked at the prescribed intervals shall not be deemed legal or be used for the purposes of this Act.

Reference standards.— The reference standards shall be kept at such places, in such custody and in such manner as may be prescribed.

Standard weighing and measuring instruments.—(1) For the purpose of verifying the correctness of commercial weights and measures and of weighing and measuring instruments used in transactions for trade, business or commerce, the Government may cause to be prepared as many sets of weighing and measuring instruments as they may deem necessary.

1. (2) Such instruments shall be of such kind, kept in such number and shall be verified and stamped in such manner as may be prescribed.
2. (3) Such instruments shall be kept at all places where secondary standards or working standards are kept.

Prohibition of use of weights and measures other than standard weights and measures.-

1. (1) Notwithstanding any- thing contained in any other law or any custom, usage or practice, no unit of mass or measure other than the standard weights or measures shall 'be used in any transaction for trade or commerce in any area or class of goods or undertakings in respect of which this Act has &me into force or be kept in any premises where such transactions are usually conducted.
2. (2) Any custom, usage, practice or method of whatever nature which permits any trader, seller or buyer to demand, receive or cause to be demanded or received any quantity of any article in excess of, or less than the quantity fixed by the weight or measure with reference to which the dealing was had or contract made in respect of the said article, shall be void.
3. (3) Any transaction, dealing or contract in any area in which, and in relation to any class-of undertakings or to any class of goods in respect of which, this section has come into force shall,-if made or had after the expiry of three months from such commencement, be void in so far as it contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1).

Power to prescribe the use of weights only, or measures only, in certain cases.-(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Government may, by notification, direct that in +spec&d 'trade or Plh of .%fades; no transaction;-dealing o'r contract shall be made & had except by weight only, or except by meamre only.

1. (2) A notification is.med under sub-section
2. (1) shall take effect in such area, with effect on and from such date, and sub- o such conditions, ., , - if ,any, as may be. specified therein.