Section 15 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 15 is the enforcement engine of the Act. It lets the Director, the Controller or any legal metrology officer enter premises, search and inspect weights, measures, goods and records, and seize them when there is reason to believe an offence under the Act has been or is likely to be committed. It also deals with goods that decay and ties every search and seizure to the criminal procedure code on searches. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 adds three new sub-sections, which are enacted but not in force until notified.
An officer with reason to believe (from information recorded in writing, personal knowledge or otherwise) that weights, measures or goods involved in trade are kept or concealed in premises or are in transit and that an offence appears to have been or be likely to be committed may enter at a reasonable time, search, inspect and seize them along with records and documents. Holders must produce documents on requisition. Every search or seizure must follow the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 provisions on searches and seizures. The 2026 Act would add a deemed-warrant rule, an improvement notice and suspension or revocation for non-compliance; it applies only from the date the Central Government notifies.
Sub-section (1): the power and its trigger
The Director, Controller or any legal metrology officer may act "if he has any reason to believe, whether from any information given to him by any person and taken down in writing or from personal knowledge or otherwise" that:
- any weight or measure or other goods in relation to which trade and commerce has taken place or is intended to take place, and
- in respect of which an offence punishable under the Act appears to have been, or is likely to be, committed,
- are kept or concealed in any premises or are in the course of transportation.
Then he may:
| Clause | Power |
|---|---|
| (a) | Enter at any reasonable time into the premises and search for and inspect any weight, measure or other goods, and any record, register or other document relating to them |
| (b) | Seize any weight, measure or other goods, and any record, register, document or article which he has reason to believe may furnish evidence that an offence has been or is likely to be committed in the course of, or in relation to, any trade and commerce |
Points to notice:
- "Reason to believe" is the threshold. The source of belief can be an informant's information taken down in writing, personal knowledge "or otherwise". A bare hunch with nothing recorded is weak ground.
- "Premises" is widely defined in section 2(n): a business place, a warehouse or godown, a place where books of account are kept, a dwelling house if part of it is used for business, and a vehicle, vessel or other mobile device used to carry on a transaction.
- "Reasonable time" qualifies entry. The section does not name hours; the circumstances decide.
- The power covers goods in transit, so a vehicle carrying packaged commodities can be stopped and examined.
Our existing guide to the powers of inspection of legal metrology officers gives a general overview. If you are facing an inspection and want to know what is lawful, a legal dispute resolution consultation can help you prepare.
Sub-section (2): production of documents
The Director, Controller or legal metrology officer "may also require the production of every document or other record relating to the weight or measure" referred to in sub-section (1), and "the person having the custody of such weight or measure shall comply with such requisition."
Failure to produce is an offence under section 31, where the penalty is now Rs 25,000 for a first offence, Rs 50,000 for a second and Rs 1 lakh for a third or later after the 2023 Jan Vishwas Act. See our article on section 31 and on section 17, which requires manufacturers, repairers and dealers to keep the records and registers.
Sub-section (3): goods that decay
Where goods seized under sub-section (1) "are subject to speedy or natural decay", the Director, Controller or officer "may dispose of such goods in such manner as may be prescribed". Section 52(2)(i) is the rule-making power, and rule 22 of the General Rules, 2011 supplies the manner:
- the officer has the goods weighed or measured on a verified instrument and enters the actual weight or measure in a form specified by the Director;
- he obtains the signature of the trader, agent or person who committed the offence, and if that person refuses, the signatures of not less than two persons present at the refusal;
- the goods are then returned to the trader or purchaser as the case may be (rule 22(1));
- goods in a false or non-conforming package that are subject to speedy or natural decay may be dealt with in the same way (rule 22(2)); and
- goods not subject to decay may be retained for prosecution after notice of seizure to the trader, agent or other person (rule 22(3)).
Rule 23 adds that an unverified weight or measure seized under section 15(3) is not forfeited if the person agrees to get it verified and stamped within ten days or an extended period, and the seizing officer must give a reasonable opportunity by returning it exclusively for verification and stamping. See our articles on rules 22 and 23 of the General Rules and on section 16.
Sub-section (4): procedure follows the CrPC
"Every search or seizure made under this section shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), relating to searches and seizures." The Code of Criminal Procedure has been replaced by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024; the Act's text still cites the 1973 Code as enacted, so check the corresponding procedure under the new Sanhita.
This is a safeguard. Search and seizure under the Act does not stand apart from the criminal procedure; it must meet the procedural rules on searches and seizures, including the recording and record-keeping that flow from them.
The 2026 amendment: sub-sections (5) to (7) (enacted, not yet in force)
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (Act 8 of 2026, assent 7 April 2026) inserts new sub-sections after sub-section (4) and a new clause (ea) in section 2 defining "improvement notice" as an improvement notice issued under the Act. It comes into force on the dates the Central Government notifies. Check the notification before relying on any of this.
| New sub-section | What it would say |
|---|---|
| 15(5) | Any inspection, search or seizure by a legal metrology officer under the section, in pursuance of a general or special order, instruction or written authorisation issued by the Director or Controller, is deemed to have been made under a lawful warrant |
| 15(6) | If the Director, Controller or officer has reasonable ground to believe that a person has failed to comply with the Act, rules or directions, he may serve an improvement notice stating the grounds, the matters that constitute non-compliance, the measures the person must take, and requiring those measures within a reasonable period specified in the notice |
| 15(7) | If the person fails to comply with the improvement notice, his registration or approval shall be suspended or revoked; the proviso lets the authorised officer, after giving an opportunity of being heard, suspend or revoke the registration or approval for reasons recorded in writing |
The improvement notice also becomes the first-step response in many penalty sections (for example sections 27 to 29, 31, 32 and 34 to 36), replacing an immediate fine for the first offence. See our articles on those sections for the layered text.
Examples
Example 1: a godown visit. An officer receives a written complaint that unverified weighing machines are kept in a wholesaler's godown for sale. He records the information, enters at a reasonable time, inspects the machines and the stock register and seizes the machines. Section 15(1) applies, and the seizure must follow the Code's search and seizure procedure (15(4)).
Example 2: perishable goods. Packed cut fruit found short of the declared quantity is seized. Because it decays quickly, section 15(3) allows disposal in the prescribed manner, and rule 22 requires weighing on a verified instrument and signatures as described above.
Example 3: improvement notice (once in force). After the 2026 provisions are notified, a packer is served an improvement notice under section 15(6) listing missing declarations and a period to fix them. If the packer does nothing, section 15(7) exposes the registration or approval to suspension or revocation after a hearing.
Common mistakes
- Treating section 15 as a power to seize anything. The trigger is reason to believe that an offence appears to have been or be likely to be committed.
- Handing over documents without noting what was taken. The Act requires searches and seizures to follow the Code's procedure, which includes records of the seizure.
- Assuming the improvement notice is already law. It is enacted by the 2026 Act but applies only from the date notified.
Need help facing an inspection or seizure?
If an officer has inspected your premises, seized goods or records, or served a notice, we can go through the papers and your options. Begin with legal dispute resolution support and bring the inspection report, seizure list and any notice.
Key takeaways
- Officers may enter, search, inspect and seize when they have reason to believe an offence under the Act appears to have been or be likely to be committed.
- Premises include godowns, vehicles and business parts of dwellings; goods in transit are covered.
- Holders must produce documents on requisition; failure is punishable under section 31.
- Perishable seized goods can be disposed of in the prescribed manner (rule 22 of the General Rules); unverified weights may be saved from forfeiture by verification within ten days or the extended period (rule 23).
- The 2026 Jan Vishwas Act would add a deemed warrant, improvement notices and suspension or revocation, but only from the date the Central Government notifies.
Read next
- Legal Metrology Officers -- Powers of Inspection
- Common Legal Metrology Violations and How to Avoid
- Section 14 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Controller and State officers
- Section 16 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Forfeiture of seized weights and packages
Disclaimer: Based on the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 (Act 1 of 2010) as enacted, read with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (in force) and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026 (Act 8 of 2026; its changes to section 15 apply only from the date the Central Government notifies), and the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011, as on 30 September 2026. State Legal Metrology rules, later amendments and notifications change; verify the current position before acting.