Economic, Commercial and Intellectual Property Laws · Legal Metrology

Authorities under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009

Updated 11 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Legal Metrology Act, 2009 runs on two tiers. The Central Government appoints the Director and officers for inter-State trade (section 13). The State Government appoints the Controller and officers for intra-State trade (section 14). Officers inspect, search and seize under section 15, work under the Director or Controller, and are protected for good-faith acts.

Understand Authorities: Director, Controller and Legal Metrology Officers

Think of the Act as having two enforcement tracks. One track covers inter-State trade and commerce. The other covers intra-State trade and commerce. Each track has its own head and its own team of officers. The appointing government is different for each.

Under section 13, the Central Government may, by notification, appoint a Director of legal metrology, Additional Director, Joint Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director and other employees. They deal with inter-State trade and commerce. Under section 14, the State Government may, by notification, appoint a Controller of legal metrology, Additional Controller, Joint Controller, Deputy Controller, Assistant Controller, Inspector and other employees. They deal with intra-State trade and commerce.

Qualifications of the Director, the Controller and the officers are as prescribed. The Government specifies by notification the local limits within which each officer acts. Every officer works under the general superintendence, direction and control of the Director (central officers) or the Controller (State officers).

The main working power is in section 15. An officer who has reason to believe that weights, measures or goods linked to an offence are kept, concealed or being transported may enter premises at a reasonable time, search and inspect, and seize goods, records and documents that may be evidence. He may also require production of documents. Searches and seizures follow the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, as the section states. Goods that decay quickly may be disposed of as prescribed.

The Act also protects and checks these officers. They are deemed public servants. No suit or prosecution lies for acts done in good faith. But obstructing them is an offence (section 40), a vexatious search without reasonable grounds is an offence (section 42), and their orders can be appealed (section 50).

Key rules to remember

Central authorities (section 13): Central Government → appoints Director, Additional/Joint/Deputy/Assistant Director and other employees → inter-State trade and commerce; Appointment is by notification. Legal metrology officers act under the general superintendence, direction and control of the Director.
State authorities (section 14): State Government → appoints Controller, Additional/Joint/Deputy/Assistant Controller, Inspector and other employees → intra-State trade and commerce; Appointment is by notification. Qualifications are as prescribed. Officers act under the Controller's general superintendence, direction and control.
Local limits: Powers and functions are exercised within local limits specified by the appointing Government by notification; Applies to both section 13(3) and section 14(3).
Delegation (section 13(7) and (8)): Centre, with State consent → delegates Director's powers to State Controller → Controller may delegate to a legal metrology officer if necessary or expedient in public interest; Delegated powers are exercised under the general superintendence, direction and guidance of the Director.
Public servant and good faith (section 13(5) and (6)): Director, Controller and authorised officers = public servants; no suit, prosecution or legal proceeding for acts done in good faith; The text refers to section 21 of the Indian Penal Code. Mention it only as the Act's wording.
Inspection and seizure (section 15): Reason to believe (written information, personal knowledge or otherwise) → enter at reasonable time, search, inspect, seize, require documents; Search and seizure follow the CrPC, 1973 provisions, as stated in the Act's text. Perishable goods may be disposed of as prescribed.
Obstruction (section 40): Imprisonment up to 2 years; second or subsequent offence up to 5 years; Covers obstructing officers or obstructing entry into premises for inspection.
Vexatious search (section 42): Imprisonment up to 1 year, or fine up to ₹10,000, or both; Applies to an officer who knows there are no reasonable grounds and still searches or seizes.
Appeals (section 50): Time limit 60 days from the order; further 60 days if sufficient cause is shown; Central officer → Director → Central Government. State officer → Controller → State Government. Controller's decision under delegated powers → Central Government.

How to solve Authorities: Director, Controller and Legal Metrology Officers questions

Use this order for any question on the authorities. It keeps your answer in ICSI style: provision, analysis, conclusion.

1Identify the trade involved. Inter-State means the Centre and section 13. Intra-State means the State and section 14.
2Name the authority and the appointing Government. Say the appointment is by notification.
3State the relevant officers and the control chain, for example officers act under the Director or Controller.
4If the question is about powers, quote section 15: reason to believe, enter at reasonable time, search, inspect, seize, require documents.
5Apply the facts. Check whether there was reason to believe, whether it was a reasonable time, and whether the search followed CrPC procedure.
6Add the safeguards or consequences if facts point to them: good faith protection, obstruction (section 40), vexatious search (section 42), appeal (section 50).
7Close with a one-line conclusion that answers the exact question asked.

Quickest way: Two-track table in your head

When to use it: Use for short questions such as who appoints, who supervises, or who hears the appeal.

Write two columns: Centre and State.
Centre: Director, section 13, inter-State, appeal goes to Director then Central Government.
State: Controller, section 14, intra-State, appeal goes to Controller then State Government.
Add section 15 powers once as common to both.
Add the numbers last: 2 and 5 years (section 40), 1 year and ₹10,000 (section 42), 60 plus 60 days (section 50).

Common mistakes in Authorities: Director, Controller and Legal Metrology Officers

Saying the Central Government appoints the Controller.
Students mix up the Director and the Controller because both titles sound similar.
Fix: Remember: Director goes with Centre (section 13), Controller goes with State (section 14).
Treating section 14 as covering inter-State trade.
Students focus on the word appointment and ignore the scope.
Fix: Always attach the scope: section 14 officers act in relation to intra-State trade and commerce only.
Saying officers can search any premises at any time.
Students remember the power but skip its conditions.
Fix: State the conditions: reason to believe an offence appears to have been or is likely to be committed, and entry at a reasonable time.
Ignoring the remedy against a wrongful search.
Students learn officer powers and forget the safeguards.
Fix: Mention section 42 for a knowingly vexatious search and section 50 for appeals against orders.
Quoting the wrong appeal period or forgetting the extension.
The 60 plus 60 day pattern is easy to blur.
Fix: Write: 60 days from the order, and a further 60 days if sufficient cause is shown.
Claiming officers have absolute immunity.
Students read the good faith clause as blanket protection.
Fix: Protection covers only things done or intended to be done in good faith under the Act, rules or orders.

Worked examples

Example 1

Explain who appoints the Controller of Legal Metrology and what the Controller's jurisdiction is. Can the Controller be given any powers of the Director?

Show the solution

Provision: section 14(1) lets the State Government, by notification, appoint a Controller, Additional, Joint, Deputy and Assistant Controllers, Inspectors and other employees.
Scope: they exercise powers and duties in relation to intra-State trade and commerce.
Local limits: under section 14(3), the Controller and officers act within the local limits the State Government specifies by notification.
Control: under section 14(4), legal metrology officers work under the general superintendence, direction and control of the Controller.
Delegation: under section 13(7), the Central Government may, with the State Government's consent and on conditions it specifies, delegate such powers of the Director as it thinks fit to the State Controller. Such powers are exercised under the general superintendence, direction and guidance of the Director (section 13(8)).
Conclusion: the State Government appoints the Controller for intra-State trade, and the Centre can delegate some Director's powers to the Controller with State consent.

Answer: The State Government appoints the Controller by notification under section 14, for intra-State trade and commerce. Yes, the Centre may delegate some of the Director's powers to the Controller with the State's consent, under section 13(7).

Example 2

A legal metrology officer receives written information that a trader has hidden uncalibrated weights in his godown and enters it at midday. He finds the weights and some account books, and seizes both. The trader says the officer had no power to do so. Advise.

Show the solution

Provision: section 15(1) lets the Director, Controller or any legal metrology officer enter, search, inspect and seize if he has reason to believe that weights, measures or goods linked to an offence are kept or concealed in premises.
Reason to believe: the Act allows this belief to come from information given by a person and taken down in writing. Here the information was in writing, so this condition is met.
Entry: the entry must be at a reasonable time. Midday is a reasonable time.
Seizure: the officer may seize weights and any record, register or document he believes may furnish evidence of an offence. So seizing both the weights and the account books is within section 15(1)(b).
Procedure: section 15(4) says the search and seizure must follow the CrPC, 1973 provisions on searches and seizures, so the officer must comply with them.
Safeguard: if the officer had known there were no reasonable grounds, section 42 would apply, with imprisonment up to one year, fine up to ₹10,000, or both. Obstructing him would itself be an offence under section 40.
Remedy: the trader may appeal against any order within 60 days under section 50, to the authority named there.

Answer: The officer acted within section 15, provided the CrPC procedure was followed. The trader's objection fails, and obstructing the officer would attract section 40. His remedy is an appeal under section 50, not resistance.

Exam tips

Learn the section 13 and section 14 contrast first. Many questions test only who appoints whom and for which trade.
When asked about powers, quote section 15 conditions, not just the powers. Examiners reward the phrase reason to believe.
Add a line on section 13(5) and (6): public servant status and good faith protection. It lifts a short answer into a full one.
For a case-based question, end with a clear conclusion and name the remedy: appeal under section 50 or offence under section 40 or 42.
Write the Act's name as the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and avoid mixing in the repealed 1976 and 1985 Acts, except where section 56 or section 21 refers to them.

Practice questions from Legal Metrology

Authorities: Director, Controller and Legal Metrology Officers: frequently asked questions

Who appoints the Controller of Legal Metrology?

The State Government appoints the Controller by notification under section 14(1). The Controller and State officers act in relation to intra-State trade and commerce.

What is the difference between the Director and the Controller?

The Director is appointed by the Central Government under section 13 for inter-State trade and commerce. The Controller is appointed by the State Government under section 14 for intra-State trade and commerce.

Can a legal metrology officer search premises without a warrant?

Section 15 lets an officer enter at a reasonable time, search and seize if he has reason to believe an offence appears to have been or is likely to be committed. The search must follow the CrPC provisions on searches and seizures. If he knowingly searches without reasonable grounds, section 42 punishes him.

What happens if someone obstructs a legal metrology officer?

Section 40 punishes obstruction with imprisonment up to two years. For a second or subsequent offence, imprisonment may extend to five years.

Where can I appeal against an officer's order?

Section 50 sets the chain. Orders of a central officer go to the Director, and the Director's orders go to the Central Government. Orders of a State officer go to the Controller, and the Controller's to the State Government. The appeal must be filed within 60 days, extendable by 60 days for sufficient cause.