Date:15/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/15/stories/2008081555221300.htm

National

Higher penalty in new weights and measures bill

Special Correspondent

Private firms will be allowed to test samples

Indian Legal Metrology Bill, 2008 will replace the earlier two bills
It incorporates most provisions of earlier Acts

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a new bill on weights and measures, which proposes a substantial hike in penalty and provides for private sector participation in lifting and testing of samples.

The Indian Legal Metrology Bill, 2008 will replace the Standards of Weights and Measures Act 1976 and the Standards of Weights and Measures Enforcement Act 1985, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

Two bills amending these two Acts were introduced in Parliament in 2005. Now the comprehensive Indian Legal Metrology Bill would replace the earlier two bills.

While the bill has incorporated most of the provisions in the two Acts, it provides for private sector participation in lifting and testing of samples, which is not allowed under the existing provisions.

Moreover, the penalty provisions are not adequate in the existing acts, sources said

Centre and the states would register firms which would be allowed to lift and test samples, which are now being examined by the Weights and Measures Department of the State governments.

Scheme for scientists

The Cabinet also approved an institutional promotion scheme for medical and non-medical scientists of the Central Council of Research in Ayurveda and Siddha, unani medicine, and homoeopathy.

The annual financial implication of the scheme for the three research councils under the Department of AYUSH would be Rs 1.89 crore.

The promotion scheme would remove frustration among medical and non-medical scientists, thereby ensuring better productivity and improvement in the R&D output in the apex research organisations.