Chapter III - Appointment and Powers of Director, Controller and Legal Metrology Officers
Section 21
Section 21: Training in Legal Metrology
Section 21 carries forward the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology and provides that its management, staff, courses, curricula and admission qualifications are prescribed. It is principally an institutional training provision.
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Need advice on Section 21?
This article is for general information. Refer to the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) For imparting training in Legal Metrology and other allied branches of knowledge the “Indian Institute of Legal Metrology” (hereinafter referred to as the “Institute”) established under the provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 (60 of 1976), shall be deemed to have been established under the corresponding provisions of this Act.
(2) The management and control of the Institute, the teaching staff and other employees, the courses and curricula for training thereat, the qualifications, which a person shall possess in order to be eligible for admission thereto shall be such as may be prescribed.
Introduction
Section 21 does not impose a general training certificate requirement on every trader or user of a weighing instrument.
Key takeaways
Core rule
Section 21 carries forward the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology and provides that its management, staff, courses, curricula and admission qualifications are prescribed. It is principally an institutional training provision.
Operational check
For officer or staff training, identify the applicable Institute course and current rules rather than assuming the Act fixes a syllabus.
Important limit
Section 21 does not impose a general training certificate requirement on every trader or user of a weighing instrument.
When this section applies
Section 21 carries forward the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology and provides that its management, staff, courses, curricula and admission qualifications are prescribed. It is principally an institutional training provision.
Practical steps and records
This section concerns the Institute and its prescribed training framework, including admission eligibility and curriculum.
- For officer or staff training, identify the applicable Institute course and current rules rather than assuming the Act fixes a syllabus.
- Check published admission qualifications and course notices before nominating personnel.
- Keep training records where an appointment, delegation or internal competency process requires them.
Hypothetical example
Hypothetical: A department nominates a new inspector for Institute training. It checks the prescribed eligibility and current course notice before sending the nomination.
How to read it with related law
Section 21 does not impose a general training certificate requirement on every trader or user of a weighing instrument.
Primary sources
Read the original central Act with the enacted and commenced amendments listed here. Rules made under the Act and State enforcement rules supply details where the provision says 'prescribed'.
Practical checklist
Do
- For officer or staff training, identify the applicable Institute course and current rules rather than assuming the Act fixes a syllabus.
- Check published admission qualifications and course notices before nominating personnel.
- Keep training records where an appointment, delegation or internal competency process requires them.
Avoid
- Do not present section 21 as a shopkeeper training certificate requirement.
- Do not infer a fixed course, admission qualification or syllabus from this section without the applicable rules.
Illustrative example
Hypothetical application of section 21
A department nominates a new inspector for Institute training. It checks the prescribed eligibility and current course notice before sending the nomination.
Identify the duty
Section 21 carries forward the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology and provides that its management, staff, courses, curricula and admission qualifications are prescribed. It is principally an institutional training provision.
Check the evidence
Check published admission qualifications and course notices before nominating personnel.
Resolve the issue
Keep training records where an appointment, delegation or internal competency process requires them.
Outcome
- Section 21 does not impose a general training certificate requirement on every trader or user of a weighing instrument.
Glossary
- Institute
- The Indian Institute of Legal Metrology referred to in section 21.
- Prescribed
- Specified in rules made under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
Frequently asked questions
Does this section require every shopkeeper to attend the Institute?
No. It establishes the Institute's continuity and leaves its training arrangements to rules.
What happened to the Institute established under the 1976 Act?
Section 21(1) deems the Indian Institute of Legal Metrology to have been established under the corresponding provisions of the 2009 Act.
Need help applying this provision to your situation?
Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026