Sections 54 and 55 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 54 lets the Central Government delegate its powers under the Act (other than appeals and rule-making) to a subordinate officer. Section 55 is the exemption most traders ask about (a legal consultation can test whether it fits your facts): the Act's provisions on verification and stamping do not apply to weights and measures used in certain arms factories, used for scientific investigation or research, or made exclusively for export. Neither section is amended by the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 or 2026.
Section 54: the Central Government may, in consultation with the State Government and by notification, direct that a power it has under the Act or rules may also be exercised by a specified subordinate officer, except the appeal power (section 50) and the rule-making power (section 52). Section 55: the provisions relating to verification and stamping do not apply to a weight or measure (a) used in a factory exclusively making arms or ammunition for the Armed Forces of the Union, (b) used for scientific investigation or research, or (c) manufactured exclusively for export. The exemption is limited to verification and stamping; other duties are not mentioned. Neither section is amended by either Jan Vishwas Act.
Section 54: delegation
| Sub-section | Content |
|---|---|
| (1) | The Central Government may, in consultation with the State Government and by notification, direct that any power exercisable by it under the Act or rules, in relation to such matters and subject to such conditions as may be specified, may be exercised also by such officer subordinate to it as may be specified. Excluded: the power in section 50 (appeals) and section 52 (rule-making) |
| (2) | Subject to any general or special direction or condition imposed by the State Government, a person authorised by the Central Government may exercise those powers in the same manner and to the same extent as if conferred directly by the Act and not by delegation |
Points:
- The delegation is by notification, so look for a notification, not an internal office order, when checking whether an officer has a particular power.
- The power is the Central Government's. No parallel delegation provision for the State Government appears in section 54. State-level arrangements come through the State's own officers under section 14 and State rules under section 53.
- Section 54(2) makes the delegate's acts as effective as if the Act itself conferred the power, which matters when a trader wants to challenge whether the officer had authority. The State Government's general or special directions may still limit how the powers are used.
- Appeals and rule-making cannot be delegated, so for section 50 the Central Government's appellate function stays with it, though section 50 itself allows a "specially authorised" officer in clauses (b) and, from the 2026 Act once notified, (c).
- For the Director's and Central officers' roles, see section 13.
Section 55: what is exempt
"The provisions of this Act, in so far as they relate to verification and stamping of weights and measures, shall not apply to any weight or measure,—
| Clause | Exempt weight or measure |
|---|---|
| (a) | Used in any factory exclusively engaged in the manufacture of any arms, ammunition or both, for the use of the Armed Forces of the Union |
| (b) | Used for scientific investigation or for research |
| (c) | Manufactured exclusively for export |
What the wording tells you
- Only verification and stamping. The words "in so far as they relate to verification and stamping" limit the exemption. On the text, section 55 does not remove other provisions of the Act, such as the model-approval duty in section 22, licensing in section 23, or the rules on declarations. The section does not say either way about those; take advice on your facts rather than assuming.
- "Exclusively" appears in (a) and (c). A factory that makes arms for the Armed Forces and for other buyers is not "exclusively engaged" in arms for the Armed Forces. A weight made for both domestic sale and export is not "manufactured exclusively for export".
- Clause (a) has three qualifiers: a factory, exclusively engaged in arms or ammunition, for the Armed Forces of the Union.
- Clause (b) turns on use for scientific investigation or research, not on who the user is. A weighing balance used in a research laboratory is in; the same balance used to weigh goods for sale is not.
- Clause (c) turns on manufacture: if made exclusively for export, it is out, but if it is later diverted to the Indian market, the exemption no longer matches the facts. The section does not say what follows, so check before diverting.
If you rely on section 55 and an officer disagrees, early legal consultation helps you assemble the proof of use or export order.
What section 55 does not do
- It does not exempt the sale or use of a weight or measure in trade because it was once made for export.
- It is not the same as the exemptions in the Packaged Commodities Rules (rule 26 and related provisions), which concern packages, not instruments. See exemptions under the Packaged Commodities Rules. Export packages have their own rule: rule 25 says an export package shall not be sold in India unless re-packed or re-labelled in accordance with Chapter II, and is otherwise liable to seizure.
- It is not the model-approval proviso in section 22, which separately lists weights and measures for which model approval may not be required; see section 22.
The three layers
| Layer | Sections 54 and 55 |
|---|---|
| 1. As enacted in 2010 | The text above |
| 2. Jan Vishwas Act, 2023 (in force; item 40) | Not amended. The item lists sections 25, 27, 28, 29, 31, 34, 35 and 48 |
| 3. Jan Vishwas Act, 2026 (Act 8 of 2026; in force only from the date the Central Government notifies; item 66) | Not amended. The item lists sections 2(ea), 15, 23, 25 to 32, 34 to 41, 45 to 48, 50, 52 and 53 |
Practical points
| Situation | Reading on the text |
|---|---|
| Laboratory using a precision balance only for experiments | Clause (b): verification and stamping provisions do not apply while it is used for research |
| Factory making weighing scales only for overseas buyers | Clause (c): exemption from verification and stamping, if the manufacture is exclusively for export |
| Same factory also sells some scales in India | Not "exclusively" for export; the exemption does not fit those scales |
| Ordnance-type factory making arms only for the Armed Forces | Clause (a) |
| Private arms maker supplying the Armed Forces and other buyers | Not exclusively engaged for the Armed Forces |
Example 1. An exporter makes digital scales only for a foreign buyer and ships them all. The scales are outside verification and stamping under section 55(c). If the exporter also keeps a few scales for domestic counter sales, those are not manufactured "exclusively for export".
Example 2. A university chemistry department uses balances for its research experiments. Clause (b) applies. If the same department sells materials by weight to outsiders using one of those balances, the use is no longer only scientific research.
Keep proof. Keep the export order, the shipping records, the research use log or the Armed Forces supply contract. The section does not say who bears the burden of proof, so be ready to show the facts.
Need help deciding whether an exemption applies?
Section 55 is narrow, and mistakes are costly, because the consequence of being wrong is a verification offence. Our legal consultation service can help test your facts against the three clauses. Bring the export order, the use description and the manufacturing records.
Key takeaways
- Section 54 lets the Central Government delegate its powers by notification to a subordinate officer, except appeals (section 50) and rule-making (section 52).
- Section 55 exempts weights and measures from verification and stamping if used in an arms and ammunition factory exclusively for the Armed Forces, used for scientific investigation or research, or made exclusively for export.
- The exemption is limited to verification and stamping; do not assume it covers other duties.
- "Exclusively" matters: mixed-use or mixed-market cases do not fit.
- Neither section is amended by the 2023 or 2026 Jan Vishwas Act.
Read next
- Sections 52 and 53 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Rule-making powers
- Sections 56 and 57 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Saving of officers and repeal of earlier laws
- Section 24 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009: Verification, stamping and test centres
- Exemptions Under Packaged Commodities Rules
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 (in force only from the date the Central Government notifies); sections 54 and 55 are not amended by either Act. Also based on the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 (as amended up to March 2022), as on 30 September 2026. State Legal Metrology rules, later amendments and notifications change; verify the current position before acting.