Section 1012 in The Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985
1012.
Statement of Objects and Reasons.-In. 1956, Parliament enacted the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956 (89 of 1956) with a view to replacing the bewildering varieties of weights and measures in use in the country by standards based on the metric system. For the enforcement of these standards, the States enacted law applicable to their respective territories.2. The 1956 Act and the corresponding enforcement legislations were based on the then current international practices. Subsequently, the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM), the international body which takes policy decisions on metrological standards, recommended for adoption by the signatories of the Metre Convention, the International System of Units (SI), which is a modernised and developed form of the metric system. Another international body, namely, the International Organisation of Legal Metrology (OIML) recommended a draft legislation on weights and measures for adoption by the member-countries. India being a signatory to both the Metre Convention and the Convention establishing the OIML, is expected to implement the recommendations of these two international bodies. The Central Government, therefore, set up an expert committee to suggest changes in the existing laws with a view to bringing them in line with the latest international trends and also removing the deficiencies which had been revealed in course of their implementation. After going into the matter in depth the committee suggested the replacement of the 1956 Act as well as the enforcement laws of the States.3. Parliament enacted the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 (60 of 1976) to replace the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956 (89 of 1956), with a view to modernising the system of weights and measures in the country. This new Central Act of 1976 necessitated revision of the enforcement laws of the States. Hence, a draft Bill for a new enforcement legislation was circulated to the States. But only a few States have taken action for adoption of the Bill.4. The enforcement aspect of weights and measures which was earlier in the State List was transferred to the Concurrent List by the Forty-second Amendment to the Constitution. As mentioned above, majority of the States have not taken action for the revision of their enforcement legislations. Consequently, the enactment of a comprehensive legislation for the enforcement of the standards established by the 1976 Act has become an urgent necessity. Further, a Parliamentary law for implementation of the modern system of weights and measures would ensure countrywide uniformity not only in the enforcement procedures but also in the scope and coverage of legal control on weights, measures and weighing and measuring instruments.
