BPCL, Labour dept. lock horns over affixing seals

By N. Ravi Kumar

CHENNAI, JUNE 23. The Weights and Measures wing, under the ambit of the Labour department, has locked horns with Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) over affixing seals on the measurement control unit and totalisers of the dispensing pumps at the petrol bunks.

Objecting to the practice, which according to industry sources, is another measure to ensure delivery of correct quantity of automobile fuel, the Weights and Measures has stopped short of terming the BPCL seals as counterfeit.

Though affixing seals remains a contentious issue for almost five months now, the oil company, sources point out, had gone ahead and affixed its seal, which are in addition to those of the Weights and Measures, in all its 80-odd petrol bunks in the city. They add that the company had obtained permission from the authority concerned in the Central Government for putting seals on the totalisers.

Presumably, the oil company resorted to the move as there were complaints of short supply to consumers at the bunks, despite the seals affixed by the Weights and Measures wing remaining intact, sources allege.

In a communication in February to the oil company, the Controller of Legal Metrology had said the practice was tantamount to affixing a counterfeit seal in terms of Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985.

Stating that the Government seal affixed on the measurement control unit of the dispensing pumps ``reigns supreme'', the letter said, there cannot be any question of counter verification or putting up any further safety device.

Charging the company with infringing on the authority of Weights and Measures, the letter said putting additional seals in the disguise of safeguard over the Government seal would draw inference that the company (BPCL) had no faith in the system. It was nothing but contempt of Government, it added.

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