Rule 24 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Section 17 of the Act says manufacturers, repairers and dealers of weights and measures must keep "such records and registers as may be prescribed". Rule 24 is where the General Rules prescribe it: a register in the form set out in the Eleventh Schedule, with a power for the Director to exempt. A legal consultation can help you set up the records before an inspector asks for them.
Every manufacturer, repairer or dealer of weights or measures covered by section 17(1) must maintain a register in the appropriate form in the Eleventh Schedule (rule 24(1)). The Director may, by order, exempt a particular maker, manufacturer, dealer or repairer from that duty, having regard to the nature or volume of the business (rule 24(2)). The register must be produced at inspection under section 17(2). The Eleventh Schedule has three separate register formats: one for manufacturers, one for repairers and one for dealers.
The text of rule 24
The rule is headed "Register and reports to be maintained by persons referred to in Section 17 of the Act". Two sub-rules follow.
Rule 24(1): "Every person referred to in sub-section (1) of Section 17 shall maintain a register in the appropriate form set out in Eleventh Schedule."
Rule 24(2): "Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-rule (1), if the Director is of the opinion that having regard to the nature or volume of the business carried on by any maker, manufacturer, dealer or repairer, it is necessary to do so, he may, by order, exempt any such maker, manufacturer, dealer or repairer from the operation of that sub-rule."
Note that the heading says "register and reports", but the text of the rule speaks only of a register. It does not prescribe any report. If you are told to file one, ask for the provision.
Who is covered
Section 17(1) names "every manufacturer, repairer or dealer of weight or measure". Rule 24(2) adds "maker" to that list in the exemption clause. The Act's section 23 separately requires a licence to manufacture, repair or sell; the register duty applies to those persons in the course of their business.
| Person | Register duty | Exemption possible |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer of weights or measures | Yes | Director's order under 24(2) |
| Repairer | Yes | Director's order under 24(2) |
| Dealer | Yes | Director's order under 24(2) |
| Maker (named in 24(2)) | Covered through the same list | Director's order under 24(2) |
| A trader who only uses weights | Not named in section 17(1) | Not applicable |
A trader who merely uses weights and measures in shop or factory is not a "manufacturer, repairer or dealer" under section 17(1) unless he also manufactures, repairs or deals in them, but he has other duties under the Act, such as verification before use.
The Eleventh Schedule
The index lists the Eleventh Schedule as the "Register to be maintained by the manufacturers/dealers/repairers of weights and measures" (marked "See Rule 24"). The phrase "appropriate form" in rule 24(1) is explained by the Schedule itself: it prints three formats, each a ruled register with a header block and a monthly or entry-wise table.
| Format | Header details | What the table records |
|---|---|---|
| Register to be maintained by manufacturers of weights and measures | Name and address of the manufacturer; description of the weight or measure; number, date of issue and period of validity of the manufacturing licence; particulars of any order suspending or revoking the licence | Month by month: unsold stock from the previous month, quantity manufactured during the month, total, then sales within the State and sales outside the State (number of items, despatch voucher number and date, and for outside sales the name of the State), total sold, balance, and remarks (13 columns) |
| Register to be maintained by repairers in respect of weights or measures received from other States | Name and address of the repairer; licence number and date of licensing | For each item: serial number, date, the State from which received, items and their numbers booked for repair, receipt number and date of issue to the user, amount of repairing charges, amount of verification fee charged, date of return to the user and remarks (about 10 columns) |
| Register to be maintained by dealers in weights and measures | Name and address; description of the weight or measure; category of weight or measure (Category A or B); licence number, date of issue and validity; particulars of any suspending or revoking order | Month by month: unsold stock from the previous month, stock brought within the State, stock brought from outside the State, total, sales within the State and outside the State (items, despatch voucher number and date, name of the State), total sold, balance, and remarks (14 columns) |
Some points to note. The column headings in the scan are broken up, so the column count and order above are our reading of the layout; use the official form for the exact sequence. The repairers' format is headed as relating to weights or measures received from other States; the Schedule prints no separate format for repairs of locally received items, so ask your Controller how that is to be recorded. The manufacturers' and dealers' formats both track stock and despatch vouchers month by month, so keep despatch vouchers in an order that allows you to fill in the voucher number and date. The Schedule carries no signature block, no fee and no filing date; it is a register to be kept and shown, not a return to be filed.
Register, State rules and the Act
The Act deals with registers in two places. Section 17 is the duty and the production requirement. Section 53(2)(b) lists "registers and records to be maintained by persons referred to under sub-section (1) of section 17" among the matters on which a State Government may make rules. So there may be State rules or formats in addition to, or along with, the Eleventh Schedule. The sources used here do not contain State rules; check your State's rules and the Controller's instructions. See our article on sections 52 and 53 for how the two layers of rule-making work.
Section 17(2) says the records and registers "shall be produced at the time of inspection to the persons authorised for the said purpose under sub-section (1) of section 15". See section 17 and section 15. Section 15(1)(a) lets the officer inspect "any record, register or other document" and 15(2) requires the person having custody to comply with a requisition to produce.
Consequence of not keeping or producing
Failure to produce documents on requisition attracts the penalty in section 31. That section was amended by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (in force), and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 is enacted but in force only from the date the Central Government notifies. See the article on section 31 for the layers and amounts. A missing register also weakens your position in any proceeding, because you cannot show what you made, repaired or sold. Records kept under this rule are separate from the monthly record for export goods in rule 18 (see our article).
Practical steps
- Check whether you are covered. Manufacturers, repairers and dealers are; pure users are not named.
- Get the notified Eleventh Schedule and pick the format for your business (manufacturer, repairer or dealer), and check any State format.
- Keep the register at the premises where the business is carried on, up to date and ready for production at inspection.
- Consider an exemption. If the nature or volume of your business is small, you can ask whether the Director will exempt you. The rule lets him decide "by order"; it does not give a right to exemption, nor a form of application.
- Keep the order. If the Director exempts you, keep the written order; the rule says he acts "by order".
Examples
Example 1: a repair workshop. A workshop repairs counter scales for local shops. As a repairer under section 17(1) it must keep the register in the Eleventh Schedule form. An inspector who walks in under section 15 can ask to see it.
Example 2: a very small dealer. A small dealer believes the volume of his business is too low to justify a register. He may ask the Director for exemption under rule 24(2). Until he holds an order, he should keep the register.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a small business is automatically exempt. Only the Director's order exempts.
- Keeping an informal notebook instead of the Schedule's form.
- Ignoring State formats.
- Not having the register at the premises at inspection.
Need help with legal metrology records?
If you make, repair or deal in weights and measures and want the register, State format and inspection file set up correctly, or you have a notice about missing records, a legal consultation is a practical starting point.
Key takeaways
- Rule 24(1) requires manufacturers, repairers and dealers named in section 17(1) to keep a register in the Eleventh Schedule form.
- Rule 24(2) lets the Director exempt a maker, manufacturer, dealer or repairer by order, considering the nature or volume of the business.
- The register must be produced at inspection.
- States may also prescribe registers under section 53(2)(b).
- The Eleventh Schedule prints separate formats for manufacturers, repairers and dealers, tracking licence details, stock, sales and despatch vouchers.
Read next
- Section 17 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Records and registers
- Section 31 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Penalty for non-production of documents
- Manufacturer License Under Legal Metrology
- Rules 25 and 26 of the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011: Fees and regional languages
Disclaimer: Based on the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011 (G.S.R. 11(E), 7 February 2011) as notified in 2011, read with the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (Act 1 of 2010), the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (in force) and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (in force only from the date the Central Government notifies), as on 30 September 2026. The Schedule text is the 2011 notification; later amendments, State Legal Metrology rules and notifications change; verify the current position before acting.