After a massive drive by the Delhi government against hoarders and black-marketers and raids on fair price shops, the Food and Supplies department has issued a directive to all shopkeepers to get their weighing scales verified by the department through its zonal offices. Though officials maintained this is an exercise the department undertakes every year, many believe otherwise, pointing to the fact that there was mounting pressure on various departments ever since the Lt-Governor took over as the administrator of Delhi. There are nine zonal offices of the Food and Supplies department, where shopkeepers can get their weighing machines verified. Apart from this, the department is also thinking of conducting surprise checks and raids at local markets. “We have received information that at regular vegetable shops, mandis and other small shops, weighing machines being used have been tampered with and, often, shopkeepers do not use the right weight and use alternatives like stones. Pressed for time, buyers put up with it,” an official said. Already, the Department of Weights and Measures has launched a special drive to prosecute shopkeepers using non-verified weighing scales. “Last week, 20 shopkeepers were prosecuted by the department under Section 24(1) of the Legal Metrological Act, 2009. In the last financial year also, shopkeepers were prosecuted under the act for using non-verified weighing scales,” the official said. The act makes it mandatory for every person having weights or measures in his possession, custody or control — which is intended or is likely to be used by him in any transaction — to have such weight verified by the department. “Every such person is required to exhibit the verification certificate in a conspicuous place in the premises, where the weight or measure is required to be used,” an official said.
