SHILLONG: In a dramatic move to clamp down on unfair trade practices, Meghalaya’s Legal Metrology Minister, Sanbor Shullai, has advised officials of the department to watch the Bollywood movie Nayak, starring Anil Kapoor, as a case study on how to deal with shopkeepers violating the Legal Metrology Act 2009.
The Minister gave this suggestion while chairing a review meeting of the State Legal Metrology Department on the effective implementation of the Act.
Speaking to the press, Shullai directed officials to perform their duties with integrity and immediately start inspecting shops to check the accuracy of weighing and measuring instruments.
”I urge the officers to watch the movie Nayak… which demonstrates honest work where, in just one day, the protagonist manages to punish many shopkeepers who violated the law on weights and measures, as well as officers who failed to carry out their assigned duties,” Shullai said.
The Minister also appealed to the public to report any cheating they witness by shopkeepers, petrol pumps, weighbridges, or pre-packaged goods retailers.
”If you find any malpractice in weighing or measuring commodities, please lodge a complaint with the Inspectors, the police, or even complain directly to me, and I will ensure that those who cheat will face the legal provisions,” he stated.
He further added that he has instructed officials to intensify Public Awareness Programs so citizens understand that there is a law to take action against those who commit fraud in weighing goods.
During the review meeting held today, the Legal Metrology Department resolved to move ahead with the implementation of the Legal Metrology Act 2009.
Shullai announced that he has given the department a 60-day deadline to show concrete progress in implementation, which includes inspecting various shops to ensure there are no violations in weights and measures across Meghalaya.
The minister expressed his dismay over the fact that despite widespread discrepancies in measuring commodities at markets, including petrol pumps and weighbridges, the Legal Metrology Department has not prosecuted a single violator since 1972!
He revealed that the State’s Legal Metrology Department currently operates with only 13 Inspectors for the entire state of Meghalaya.
”The shortage of Inspectors has affected and hindered the implementation of the Legal Metrology Act 2009. I have instructed the officials to immediately prepare proposals to recruit more Inspectors across all districts of the State,” said the Minister.
Additional Secretary of the Legal Metrology Department, Aldealyne Nikhla, acknowledged that the shortage of Inspectors makes it difficult for the department to work effectively for the public’s benefit.
”Just one Inspector is unable to monitor and implement the Legal Metrology Act 2009 throughout an entire District, as Inspectors are often assigned to election duties, VIP duties, meetings, and other tasks, which prevents them from conducting shop inspections,” said Nikhla.
