LexaceLexace Ask the AI ›
⚖️ Ask the AI about your situation:🚗 Car Accident💼 Work / Job🏠 Housing / Eviction👪 Family / Divorce📋 Contract Dispute💰 Money Owed

The GOA WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (ENFORCEMENT) ACT, 1968

Goa · state statute
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this act
--1--  
Legislative Assembly of Goa, Daman and Diu 
Legislature Department 
LA/1848/68 
 
The following Act, passed by the Legislative Assembly of Goa, Daman and Diu received the 
Assent of the President of India on the 30th April, 1968, and is hereby published for general 
information. 
 
THE GOA WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (ENFORCEMENT) 
ACT, 1968 
(Act No. 9 of 1968) [30th April, 1968] 
 
An Act to provide for the enforcement of standard weights and measures and for matters 
connected therewith. 
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa, Daman and Diu in the Nineteenth Year of 
the Republic of India as follows: — 
CHAPTER I 
Preliminary 
 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement. — (1) This Act may be called the Goau Weights 
and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1968. 
(2) It extends to the whole of the Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. 
(3) It shall come into force on  such date as the State Government may, by notification in the 
Official Gazette, appoint; and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this 
Act or for different areas or for different classes of undertakings or for different classes of 
goods. 
2. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— 
(a) “Commercial weight or measure” means a weight or measure purporting to be a 
standard weight or measure used in any transaction for trade or commerce; 
(b) “Controller and Assistant Controller” means the Controller and Asst. Controller of 
Weights and Measures appointed under section 18; 
(c) “Inspector” means an Inspector of Weights and Measures appointed under section 18; 
--2--  
(d) “Measuring Instrument” means any measuring instrument other than a weighing 
instrument and includes any instrument used for determining the length, area, volume, 
capacity, quality, temperature or density of any articles; 
(e) “Mint” means any mint established by the Central Government; 
(f) “Person” shall be construed to mean both the plural and singular, as the case demands, 
and shall include individuals, partnerships, corporations, companies, societies, associations, 
Government Departments, Offices and other Organisations; 
(g) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act; 
(h) “Reference standards” means the sets of standard weights and measures supplied to the 
State Government by the Central Government in pursuance of sub-section (2) of section 15 of 
the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956; 
(i) “Rules” means the rules made under section 50; 
(j) “Standard weight or measure” means any unit of mass or measure referred to in sub - 
section (1) of section 13 of the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956; 
(k) “Sealed package or container” means a closed packet bottle, casket, tin, barrel, case, 
receptacle, bag, sack, wrapper or other thing in which any article is placed or packed and 
which is intended to be sold with its contents, without any weighment or measurem ent of 
such contents at the time of sale; 
(l) “Stamp” means a mark for use as evidence of the passing of weights and measures for 
use, whether applied by impressing, casting, engraving, etching, branding or by any other 
means and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly; 
(m) “State Government” means the Administrator appointed to the Union Territory of 
Goa, Daman and Diu, under article 239 of the Constitution or the Government of Goa, 
Daman and Diu; 
(n) “Use in transaction for trade or commerce” means use for  the purpose of determining 
or declaring the quantity of anything in terms measurement of length, area, volume, capacity 
or weight in or in connection with — 
(i) any contract, whether by way of sale, purchase, exchange, hire purchase or 
otherwise; or 
(ii) any assessment of royalty, toll, duty or other dues; or 
(iii) the assessment of any work done or services rendered, otherwise than in relation to 
research or scientific studies or in individual house-holds for house-hold purpose; 
(o) “Verification” with its grammatical variations and cognate expressions used with 
reference to a weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument, includes the process 
of comparing, checking or testing such weight or measure or weighing or measuring 
instrument and also includes re-verification; 
(p) “Weighing instrument” means any instrument for weighing and includes scales with 
the weights belonging thereto, scale -beams, balances, spring balances, steel yards and other 
weighing machines. 
--3--  
CHAPTER II 
Standard Weights and Measures 
3. Working standards. — (1) For the purpose of verifying the correctness of commercial 
weights and measures and weighing and measuring instruments used in transactions  for trade 
or commerce the State Government may cause to be prepared as many sets of authenticated 
standard weights and measures as it may deem necessary, to be called the working standards. 
(2) The working standards shall be made of such material and according to such designs and 
specifications and shall be prepared by such agency and shall be stamped and authenticated by 
such person or authority and in such manner as may be prescribed. 
(3) The working standards shall be kept at such places, in such custody and in such manner as 
may be prescribed. 
(4) A working standard shall be verified with the secondary standard and marked by such 
persons, at such places, at such intervals and in such manner as may be prescribed. 
(5) A working standard which is not so verified and marked within the prescribed  period 
shall not be deemed legal or be used for the purposes of this Act. 
(6) A working standard which has become defective shall not be deemed legal or be used for 
the purposes, of this Act, until it has been verified and marked in the prescribed manner. 
4. Secondary standards.— (1) For the purpose of verifying the correctness of the working 
standards, the State Government may cause to be prepared at the Mint as many sets of 
authenticated standard weights and measures as it may deem necessary to be called the  
secondary standards. 
(2) The secondary standards shall be made of such material and according to such design and 
specifications as may be prescribed and shall be stamped and authenticated by such person or 
authority as the Central Government may direct. 
(3) The secondary standards shall be kept at such places, in such custody and in such manner 
as may be prescribed. 
(4) A secondary standard shall be verified with the reference standard at least once in every 
period of five years and shall be marked with the date of ve rification in the prescribed manner 
by such person or authority as the State Government may direct. 
(5) A secondary standard which is not so verified and marked within the aforesaid period 
shall not be deemed legal and shall not be used for the purposes of this Act. 
5. Reference standards. — The reference standards shall be kept at such places in such 
custody and in such manner as the State Government may direct. 
6. Standard weighing and measuring instruments. — (1) For the purpose of verifying the 
correctness of comme rcial weights and measures and of weighing and measuring instruments 
used in transactions for trade or commerce, the State Government may cause to be prepared as 
many sets of standard weighing and measuring instruments as it may deem necessary. 
--4--  
(2) Such instruments shall be of such kind, kept in such number and shall be verified and 
stamped in such manner as may be prescribed. 
(3) Such instruments shall be kept at all places where secondary standards or working 
standards are kept. 
7. Prohibition of use of weights and measures other than standard weights and 
measures.— (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law or any custom, usage or 
practice, to the contrary no unit of mass or measure other than the standard weights or measures 
shall be used in any transaction for trade or commerce in any area or class of goods or 
undertaking in respect of which this Act has come into force or be kept in any premises where 
such transactions are usually conducted. 
(2) Any custom, usage, practic e, or method of whatever nature which permits in any trade a 
trader, seller or buyer to demand, receive or cause to be demanded or received any quantity of 
article in excess of, or less than, the quantity fixed by the weight or measure by which the 
contract or dealing in respect of the said article has been made, shall be void. 
(3) Any transaction, dealing or contract made or had after the expiry of three months from the 
commencement of this Act shall, in so far as it contravenes the provisions of sub -section (1) be 
void. 
8. Power to prescribe the use of weights only, or measures only, in certain cases. — (1) 
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the State Govern ment may, by notification in 
the Official Gazette, direct that in any specified trade or class of trades no transaction, dealing  
or contract shall be made or had except by weight only, or except by measure only. 
(2) A notification issued under this section  shall take effect in such area, with effect from 
such date, and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified therein. 
 
 
CHAPTER III 
9. Registration of persons using weights or measures or weighing or measuring 
instruments in transactions for trade or commerce. — (1) No person shall use any weight or 
measure or weighing or measuring instrument in any transaction for trade or commerce unles s 
he registers himself within the prescribed period with the Controller and obtain from him a 
certificate in token thereof. 
(2) Every application for registration under sub -section (1) shall be made to the Controller 
and shall contain such particulars as may be prescribed. 
(3) If the Controller is satisfied that an application for registration is in order, he shall register 
the applicant and issue to the applicant a certificate of registration in the prescribed form. 
CHAPTER IV 
Verification and Stamping of Weights and Measures 
10. Marking of denominations on commercial weights and measures. — Every weight or 
measure manufactured for use as a commercial weight or measure shall bear the description of 
--5--  
the weight or measure which it purports to be marked legibly on it in such manner as may be 
prescribed. 
11. Prohibition of sale of unstamped commercial weights and measures. — No 
commercial weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument shall be sold or delivered 
unless it has been verified or rever ified in accordance with the rules made under this Act and 
stamped in the prescribed manner by an Inspector with stamp of verification. 
12. Prohibition of use of unstamped commercial weights or measures. — No weight or 
measure or weighing or measuring instruments shall be used in transactions for trade or 
commerce unless it has been verified or reverified in accordance with the rules made under this 
Act and stamped in the prescribed manner by an Inspector with a stamp of verification. 
13. Power of State Gov ernment to exempt. — Where the size of a commercial weight or 
measure renders it impracticable to have any denomination marked on it under the provisions of 
section 10 or to be stamped under the provisions of section 11 or section 12, the State 
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt such weight or measure from 
being so stamped. 
14. Prohibition of manufacture etc., of weights and measures without licence. — No 
person shall, in the course of trade, manufacture, repair or sell any weight or measure or any 
weighing or measuring instrument, unless he has obtained in the prescribed manner a licence in 
this behalf from the State Government or any officer authorised by such Government. 
15. Manufacturer to submit prototypes of weights, measures and wei ghing and 
measuring instruments — (1) Every manufacturer of any prescribed weight or measure or 
weighing or measuring instrument shall, — 
(a) in a case where such weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument is being 
manufactured at the commencement of  this Act on the pattern of an existing design, within 
such period as may be prescribed; 
(b) in any other case, before he commences to manufacture that weight or measure or 
weighing or measuring instrument, submit to the prescribed authority a prototype of the  
weight or measure or weighing or measuring instruments, as the case may be. 
(2) Every prototype submitted under sub-section (1) shall be accompanied by such particulars 
as may be prescribed. 
(3) The prescribed authority shall after such examination as it considers necessary, submit a 
report to the State Government on the prototype within the prescribed period. 
(4) The State Government may, after considering the report of the prescribed authority 
submitted under sub-section (3), accept the prototype or suggest modifications thereto or reject 
the same and shall give intimation to the manufacturer accordingly: 
Provided that no modification to the prototype shall be rejected under this sub-section unless 
the manufacturer has been given an opportunity of being heard in the matter. 
(5) Where the State Government has suggested any modification to the prototype under sub - 
section (4), the manufacturer shall not manufacture or continue to manufacture, as the case may 
--6--  
be, the weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument to which the prototype relates 
otherwise than in accordance with that modification. 
(6) Where the State Government has rejected any prototype under sub -section (4), the 
manufacturer shall not manufacture or continue to manufacture, as the case may be, the weight 
or measure or weighing or measuring instrument to which the prototype relates. 
16. Marking of weights or measures on sealed containers.— No person shall sell, offer for 
sale, expose for sale, or have in his possession for sale, any article contained in a sealed package 
or container unless such package or container bears thereon, or on a label, securely attached 
thereto, a description of the net weight or measure of the article contained therein: 
Provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to: 
(i) any sealed package or container— 
(a) of net weight of less than one hundred and twenty grams, if the sealed package or 
container contains biscuits, confectionery or sweets; and 
b) of net weight of less than sixty grams, if the sealed package or container contains any other 
foodstuff; 
(ii) any other article sold, offered for sale, exposed for sale, or in possession for sale which 
is not ordinarily sold in transactions for trade or commerce by weight or measure: 
Provided further that the State Government may, if it is satisfied that the size of any class of 
such packages or containers renders it impracticable to comply with the provisions of this 
section by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt such class from the operation of th is 
section. 
17. Prohibition of quoting price, or expressing quantity, of any article otherwise than in 
terms of standard weight or measure. — No person shall, in any transaction for trade or 
commerce, quote the price, or express the quantity, of any article oth erwise than in terms of the 
standard weight or measure. 
18. Appointment of Controller, Assistant Controller and Inspectors. — (1) The State 
Government may appoint a Controller of Weights and Measures for the Union Territory of Goa, 
Daman and Diu and as many As sistant Controllers and Inspectors of Weights and Measures as 
may be necessary for exercising the powers and discharging the duties conferred or imposed on 
them by or under this Act. 
(2) The State Government may, by general or special order, define the local l imits within 
which each Inspector shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties conferred or imposed  
on Inspectors by or under this Act. 
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, all Assistant Controllers of Weights and Measures 
and Inspectors shall perform their functions under the general superintendence and control of  
the Controller; and the Controller and the Assistant Controllers of Weights and Measures may  
in addition to the power and duties conferred or imposed on them by or under this Act, exe rcise 
any power or discharge any duty so conferred or imposed on Inspectors. 
--7--  
19. Verification and stamping by Inspectors. — (1) Every Inspector shall, for the purpose 
of verification of weights and measures and weighing and measuring instruments, attend at such 
place and time within his jurisdiction as may be appointed in this behalf by the Controller. 
(2) The Inspector shall verify every weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument 
which is brought to him for the purpose of verification and if he finds such weight or measure or 
weighing or measuring instrument correct and in conformity with the Standards of Weights and 
Measures Act, 1956, and the rules made thereunder, he shall stamp the same with a stamp of 
verification in the prescribed manner. 
20. Power to Inspect, etc. — (1) An Inspector may, within the area under his jurisdiction, 
inspect at all reasonable times, the weights, measures and weighing and measuring instruments 
which are used in transactions for trade or commerce or are i n the possession of any person or 
are on any premises for such use and may verify every such weight or measure or weighing or 
measuring instrument with a working standard or weighing or measuring instrument prescribed 
for the purpose. 
(2) For the purpose of ve rifying the correctness of any weight or measure used in any 
transaction, an Inspector may also verify the weight or measure of any article sold or delivered 
in the course of the transaction. 
(3) An Inspector may, at all reasonable times, require any trader or  any employee or agent of 
a trader to produce before him for inspection or verification all weights, measures, weighing and 
measuring instruments which are used by him or are in his possession or are kept on any 
premises used for trade and all documents and records relating thereto and such trader, 
employee or agent shall comply with such requirements. 
(4) An Inspector may seize and detain any weight or measure or weighing or measuring 
instrument regarding which an offence under this Act appears to have been committed or which 
appears to have been or which might be used in the commission of such an offence, and may 
also seize and detain any articles sold or delivered or caused to be sold or delivered by means of 
such weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument together with any documents or 
records relating thereto. 
(5) Where an Inspector has reasons to believe that a sealed package or container does not 
actually contain the net weight or measure of the article which it purports to contain, he may 
break open the sealed package or container and verify its contents; and if, on such verification, 
the net weight or measure of the article is found to be correct, he shall reseal the package or 
container where it is possible so to do and attach a certificate the reto stating the correct weight 
or measure of the article, but if, on the other hand the net weight or measure of the article it 
found to be incorrect, he may seize and detain the package or container and the article contained 
therein. 
(6) For the purpose of s uch inspection, an Inspector may, at all reasonable time, enter into 
any place where weights, measures, or weighing or measuring instruments are used or kept for 
use in transactions for trade or commerce and inspect such weights and measures and weighing 
and measuring instruments. 
--8--  
Explanation:— Where any premises is partly used for trade and partly for dwelling purpose, 
the whole of such premises shall, for the purpose of this sub-section, be treated as a place where 
weights or measures  or weighing or measuring instruments are used or are kept for use in 
transactions for trade or commerce. 
21. Power of Inspector to adjust weights or measures. — Where it appears to the State 
Government desirable that an Inspector should be allowed in any area  to adjust the weights and 
measures or weighing or measuring instruments, it may, if it thinks fit, authorise such Inspector 
to adjust weights and measures or such instruments accordingly. 
22. Manufacturers etc. to maintain records and documents. — (1) Every ma nufacturer, 
repairer or dealer in weights and measures or weighing or measuring instruments and every 
person using them in transactions for trade or commerce shall maintain such records and 
accounts as may be prescribed and if required so to do by an Inspe ctor, shall produce such 
records and account before him. 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section (1), if the State Government is of 
opinion that having regard to the nature of business carried on by any such manufacturer, 
repairer or dealer, it is necessary so to do, it may, by order exempt such person or class of 
persons from the operation of that sub-section. 
23. Appeals.— (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), an appeal shall lie— 
(a) from every decision of Assistant Controller, and Insp ector under this Act, to the 
Controller; and 
(b) from every decision of the Controller under this Act, not being a decision made in 
appeal under clause (a), to the State Government or any officer specially authorised in this 
behalf by the State Government. 
(2) Every such appeal shall be preferred within sixty days from the date of the decision. 
(3) On receipt of any such appeal, the appellate authority shall, after giving the appellant a 
reasonable opportunity of being heard and after making such enquiry as it deems  proper, decide 
the appeal and the decision of the appellate authority shall be final. 
24. Levy of fees.— The State Government may charge such fees— 
(a) for the grant of licence under section 14, for manufacture, repair or sale of commercial 
weights and measures and weighing and measuring instruments; and 
(b) for the verification, marking, stamping and adjustment of commercial weights and 
measures and weighing and measuring instruments, 
as may be prescribed. 
25. Validity of weights and measures duly stamped. — A weight or m easure or weighing  
or measuring instrument, duly stamped by an Inspector, under this Act, shall be a legal weight  
or measure or weighing or measuring instrument in all places in which relevant provision of this 
Act has come into force unless it is found to be false or defective and shall not be liable to be 
--9--  
restamped by reason merely of the fact that it is used in any place other than that in which it was 
originally stamped. 
 
 
CHAPTER V 
Penalties 
26. Penalty for sale or delivery by weight or measure other than standard weights or 
measures.— Whoever, after the expiry of three months from the commencement of this  
section, sells or causes to be sold or delivers or causes to be delivered in the course of a ny 
transaction for trade or commerce any article by any denomination of weight or measure other 
than one of the standard weights or measures or whoever after the commencement of this Act 
keeps any unit of mass or measure other than the standard weights and  measures in any  
premises where such transactions are usually conducted shall be punishable, for a first offence, 
with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and for a second or subsequent offence, 
with imprisonment for a period which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both. 
27. Penalty for sale of unstamped commercial weights and measures. — Whoever sells or 
delivers any weight or measure or any weighing or measuring instrument which has not been 
verified or re -verified or stamped in accor dance with the provisions of this Act and the rules 
made thereunder shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees. 
28. Penalty for use of unstamped commercial weights and measures. — Whoever uses in 
any transaction for trade or commerce or has in his possession for such use, any weight or 
measure or any weighing or measuring instrument which has not been verified or reverified or 
stamped in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder shall be 
punishable for a first offence, with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and for a 
second or subsequent offence with imprisonment for a period which may extend to three 
months, or with fine, or with both. 
Explanation 1:— When any such weight or measure or weighin g or measuring instruments 
is found in the possession of any trader or any employee or agent of such trader, such trader, 
employee or agent shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, to have had it in his 
possession for use in transactions for trade or commerce. 
Explanation 2: — Where any weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument is  
used or possessed in contravention of this section by any employee or agent of a trader on  
behalf of such a trader, such trader shall, unless he proves that the  offence under this section  
was committed by his employee or agent without his knowledge or consent, be also deemed to 
be guilty of the offence. 
29. Penalty for manufacture of weights etc. without licence. — If any person 
manufactures, repairs, or sells any wei ght or measure or weighing or measuring instrument, 
without obtaining a licence as required by section 14, he shall be punishable with imprisonment 
for a period which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both. 
--10--  
30. Penalty for use of weights or measures in contravention of section 8. — Whoever 
contravenes any of the provisions of a notification issued under section 8 shall be punishable 
with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees. 
31. Penalty for non -registration.— Whoever cont ravenes the provisions of section 9(1) 
shall, on conviction, be punished with fine which may extend to fifty rupees. 
32. Penalty for contravention of section 15. — Whoever contravenes the provisions of 
section 15 shall, on conviction, be punished with fine whic h may extend to two thousand  
rupees. 
33. Penalty for failure to mark weight or measure on sealed containers. — Whoever 
contravenes the provisions of section 16 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two 
thousand rupees. 
34. Penalty for quoting prices or expressing quantities otherwise than in terms of 
standard weight or measure in contravention of section 17. — Whoever contravenes the 
provisions of section 17 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand  
rupees. 
35. Penalty for fraudulent use of weights, measures etc. — Whoever fraudulently uses any 
standard weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument which he knows to be false 
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a period which may extend to one year, o r with fine 
or with both. 
36. Penalty for being in possession of false weight or measure etc. — Whoever is in 
possession of any commercial weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument which he 
knows to be false, intending that the same may be fraudule ntly used shall be punishable with 
imprisonment for a period, which may extend to one year, or with fine or with both. 
37. Penalty for making or selling false weight or measure. — Whoever makes, sells or 
disposes of or causes to be made, sold or disposed of an y standard weight or measure or 
weighing or measuring instrument which he knows to be false in order that the same may be 
used as true or knowing that the same is likely to be used as true, shall be punishable with 
imprisonment for a period which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. 
38. Penalty for delivering or receiving any quantity of article less than, or in excess of 
the quantity fixed by the weight or measure in the contract.— 
Whoever — 
(i) in selling any article by weight or measure delivers or causes to be delivered to the 
purchaser any quantity of that article less than, or 
(ii) in buying any article by weight or measure demands or receives or causes to be 
demanded or received from the vendor any quantity of that article in excess of the quantity 
fixed by the weight or measure by which the contract or dealing in respect of that article has 
been made, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. 
39. Penalty for forging etc. of weights, measures etc.— (1) Whoever forges or counterfeits 
any stamp used under this Act for the stamping of any standard weight or measure or weighing 
or measuring instrument or possesses any such counterfeit stamp, or removes a stamp from any 
--11--  
standard weight or measure or weighi ng or measuring instrument and inserts the same into 
another weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument or wilfully increases or 
diminishes a weight or measure so stamped, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a  period 
which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. 
(2) Whoever knowingly uses, sells, disposes of or exposes for sale any weight or measure or 
weighing or measuring instrument with such forged or counterfeit stamp thereon, or a weight or 
a measure so increased or diminis hed shall be punished with imprisonment for a period which 
may extend to six months or with fine, or with both. 
40. Penalty for neglect or refusal to produce weight or measure etc. for inspection.— 
Whoever — 
(a) refuses or neglects to produce for inspection or verification under section 20, any 
weight or measure or weighing or measuring instrument or any document or record relating 
thereto in his possession or on his premises, or 
(b) refuses to permit an Inspector to inspect and verify any such weight, measure, 
instrument, document, on record, or 
(c) obstructs the entry of an Inspector under section 20, or 
(d) otherwise obstructs or hinders an Inspector in the performance of his duties under this 
Act, 
shall be punishable with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees. 
41. Penalty for breach of duty by Inspector. — If an Inspector knowingly stamps a weight 
or measure or weighing or measuring instrument in contravention of the provisions of this Act  
or of the rules made thereunder,  he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a period which 
may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. 
CHAPTER VI 
Miscellaneous 
42. Protection of action taken in good faith. — No suit, prosecution or other legal 
proceeding shall lie against the Contro ller or Assistant Controller of Weights and Measures or 
any Inspector or any other person appointed under this Act in respect of anything which is in 
good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or rules made thereunder. 
43. Controller etc. appointed under this Act to be public servants. — The Controller, 
every Assistant Controller and Inspector appointed under this Act shall be deemed to be a public 
servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860). 
44. Cognizance of offence etc. — (1) No court shall take cognizance of an offence 
punishable under this Act except upon complaint in writing made by the Controller or any 
officer authorised in this behalf by the Controller by general or special order. 
(2) No court inferior t o that of a magistrate of first class shall try any offence punishable 
under this Act. 
--12--  
45. Composition of offences. — (1) Any offence punishable under section 26, secti on 27, 
section 28, section 30, section 33, section 38 or section 40 other than a second or a subsequent 
offence under section 26 or section 28 may, either before or after the institution of the 
prosecution, be compounded by the State Government on payment of such sum as the State 
Government thinks fit. 
(2) On payment by the offender of such sum, the offender, if in custody, shall be set at liberty 
and if any proceedings in any criminal court have been instituted against the offender in respect 
of the offence the composition shall be deemed to amount to an acquittal and no further criminal 
proceedings shall be taken against him in respect of such offence. 
46. Stamped weights etc. to be presumed to be correct. — A weight or measure or 
weighing or measuring in strument duly stamped under the provisions of this Act and the rules 
made thereunder shall be presumed to be correct until its inaccuracy is proved, if this is 
produced in any court by any Inspector having charge thereof or by any person acting under the 
general or special authority of the Controller. 
47. Offences by companies. — (1) If the person committing an offence under this Act is a 
company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in -charge of, and was 
responsible to the company for th e conduct of the business of the company as well as the 
company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against 
and punished accordingly: 
Provided that nothing contained in this sub -section shall render any such per son liable to 
punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he 
exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section (1), where an offence under t his Act 
has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the 
consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, 
secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be gu ilty of that offence and shall be liable to 
be proceeded against and punished accordingly. 
Explanation:— For the purposes of this section— 
(a) “company” means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of 
individuals; and 
(b) “director”, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm. 
48. Delegation of Powers. — The State Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette, direct that any power or duty exercisable by it under this Act or rules made thereunder 
shall, in relation to such matters and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the 
direction be exercisable also by such officer or authority subordinate to the State Government as 
may be specified in the notification. 
49. Limits of error to be tolerated in weights and measures. — Subject to any rules that 
may be made under the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1956, (Central Act 89 of 1956) 
in this behalf, the State Government may prescribe the limits of error which may be tolerated— 
--13--  
(a) in secondary standards referred to in section 4; 
(b) in working standards referred to in section 3; 
(c) in commercial weights and measures or in selling articles by weight or measure 
generally or as regards any trade or class of trades; and 
(d) weighing and measuring instruments. 
50. Power to make rules.— (1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette, make rules to carry out the purpose of this Act. 
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules 
may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely — 
(a) the material of which and the designs and specifications according to which working 
standards may be made, the agency by which such standards may be prepared, the per son by 
whom or the authority by which and the manner in which such standards  may be stamped 
and authenticated, the places at which and the custody and manner in which such standards 
may be kept; 
(b) the procedure for the verification or re -verification and marking of working standards, 
the persons by whom the places at which and the intervals at which, they may be marked; 
(c) the material of which and the designs and specifications according to which secondary 
standards may be made, the places at which and the cust ody and manner in which such 
standards may be kept; 
(d) the procedure for the verification or reverification and marking of secondary standards 
and the manner in which they may be marked; 
(e) the number of weighing and measuring instruments to be kept, the manner in which 
they may be verified and stamped and necessary particulars regarding the same; 
(f) the manner in which commercial weights and measures may be marked by 
manufacturers; 
(g) the form and manner in which, and the conditions subject to which licenses may be 
granted to persons for manufacture, repair or sale of commercial weights and measures and 
weighing and measuring instruments; 
(h) the qualifications, functions and duties generally of Inspectors under this Act; 
(i) verification and stamping of weights and measures  and weighing and measuring 
instruments and the period within which they are to be reverified; 
(j) inspection of weights and measures and weighing and measuring instruments used in 
transactions for trade or commerce; 
(k) the seizure, detention and disposal of weig hts and measures which are not authorised 
by this Act; 
--14--  
(l) the books, accounts and records relating to weights and measures and weighing and 
measuring instruments to be maintained and the manner in which they may be maintained or 
produced; 
(m) the limits of error which may be tolerated in secondary or working standards; 
(n) the limits of error which may be tolerated in weights and measures and weighing and 
measuring instruments used or intended to be used in transactions for trade or commerce; 
(o) the limits or error which may be tolerated in selling articles by weights and measures 
generally or as regards any trade or class of trades; 
(p) the form and manner in which appeals may be preferred against decisions of 
Controller, Assistant Controller and Inspectors and the procedure for hearing appeals; 
(q) the fees which may be charged for the grant of licences under section 14 and for 
verification, reverification, adjustment and stamping of weights and measures and weighing 
and measuring instruments and the collection and levy of the same; 
(r) the material, form and specification and manufacture and sale of commercial weights 
and measures and weighing and measuring instruments; 
(s) any other matter which has to be, or may be, prescribed. 
(3) In making any rule under this sectio n the State Government may provide that a breach 
thereof shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. 
(4) The power to make rules under this section shall be subject to the condition of previous 
publication in the Official Gazette. 
(5) All rules made under this section shall, as soon as may be, after they are made, be laid 
before the State Legislature. 
51. Repeal and savings. — (1) On coming into force of this Act or any part thereof, in any 
area or areas, the postures (order of the municipa lity) of respective municipality as in force in 
that area or areas of Union Territory of Goa, Daman and Diu shall, to the extent to which they 
contain any provision which correspond to any provision of this Act, stand repealed in such area 
or areas: 
Provided that such repeal shall not affect:— 
(a) the previous operation of the said law or anything duly done or suffered thereunder; or 
(b) any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired accrued or incurred under the said 
law; or 
(c) any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred in respect of any offence committed 
against the said law; or 
(d) any investigation, legal proceeding or remedy in respect of any such right, privilege, 
obligation, liability, forfeiture or punishment as aforesaid; and any such investigation , legal 
proceeding or remedy may be instituted, continued or enforced, and any such penalty, 
forfeiture or punishment may be imposed as if this Act had not been passed: 
--15--  
Provided further that all appointments made, notifications and notices issued, rules, bye-laws 
and order made, contracts entered into under any repealed law shall, so far as they are not 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and the Rules, continue in force and be deemed to 
have been made, issued and entered into under this Act. 
(2) If, immediately before the commencement of this Act or any provision thereof in respect 
of any area or class of goods or undertaking, there is in force in respect of that area or class of 
goods or undertakings,  any law which corresponds to this Act or to any provision thereof and 
which is not repealed by sub-section (1), that corresponding law shall stand repealed. 
 
 
 
 
 
Secretariat, 
Panaji, 
May 17, 1968. 
R. L. SEGEL, 
Secretary to the Legislative Assembly 
of Goa, Daman and Diu. 

‹ Prev All Goa acts Next ›