DD Correspondent
Srinagar: In a major reform aimed at promoting Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) and strengthening consumer protection, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir has notified the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2026.
The new rules mark an important milestone for the Legal Metrology Department and are expected to streamline regulatory processes while ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
The rules introduce several business- and consumer-friendly measures. Licences for manufacturers, dealers and repairers of weights and measures have been replaced with registration certificates, eliminating the requirement for their renewal. The need for inspection before the issuance of registration certificates has also been removed.
The rules further mandate the use of special-accuracy weighing instruments for weighing precious metals, prescribe verification fees for different categories of weights and measures, and fix compounding fees for offences punishable under the Legal Metrology Act, 2009.
These measures are intended to simplify compliance for businesses and strengthen enforcement to ensure better consumer protection across J&K.
The reforms build on recently launched initiatives, including the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2026, increased periodicity for the re-verification of specified weights and measures through amendments to the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011, business deregulation in key areas, and online service delivery through the J&K Single Window System.
Officials said the measures address several key issues that had remained pending for years. They added that a strong legal framework is now in place to enable the Department to enforce the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, and the rules made thereunder in a fair and effective manner, thereby strengthening the trust of both the business community and consumers in the Union Territory.
