Port Blair : In a move aimed at strengthening consumer protection and ensuring fair trade practices in two of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ busiest tourist destinations, the Directorate of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has launched a special Legal Metrology verification drive at Swaraj Dweep and Shaheed Dweep, warning that the use of unverified or faulty weighing and measuring instruments will invite stringent legal action.
According to an official communication, the Legal Metrology Officer, accompanied by a team from the Directorate of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, will conduct a special camp at Swaraj Dweep on July 7 and 8 and at Shaheed Dweep on July 9 for the verification and stamping of all weighing and measuring instruments used by commercial establishments. The drive covers traders, auto-rickshaw owners and drivers, bar establishments, as well as other Government and semi-Government establishments using weighing and measuring devices in the two islands.
The exercise is intended to ensure that all instruments conform to the standards prescribed under the Legal Metrology laws, thereby safeguarding the interests of consumers and promoting transparency in commercial transactions. Officials have urged all stakeholders to take advantage of the scheduled camps and present their weighing and measuring instruments for timely verification and stamping. Such periodic verification is mandatory under the law and plays a crucial role in preventing inaccurate measurements, unfair trade practices and consumer grievances.
The Directorate has made it clear that, once the stipulated verification period is over, any trader or establishment found using unverified, unstamped or defective weighing and measuring instruments at Swaraj Dweep or Shaheed Dweep will face strict action under the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act and the rules framed thereunder.
The department has appealed to all concerned establishments to cooperate with the verification teams and complete the mandatory formalities within the scheduled dates to avoid penal action while contributing to a fair, transparent and consumer-friendly marketplace.
