Why is sand sold in terms of unit? HC asks state government

MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Thursday questioned the Tamil Nadu government asking on what basis it had passed an order permitting the sale of sand in terms of units. It also asked whether the equipment used to quarry sand in riverbed has been certified.
The state public works department (PWD) quarries sand from riverbeds in the state. The PWD on May 31, 2008 passed an order permitting the sale of sand in terms of 'unit'.
Seeking to quash the government order, Trichy-based advocate M Rajendran filed a petition before the Madurai bench.
The petition came up for hearing on Thursday. The petitioner said that a thing involved in trading has to be weighed in terms of international systems. Accordingly, the central government enacted the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 by repealing the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976.
As per the Legal Metrology Act, any valuable thing has to be viewed in terms of kg and on that basis alone price of thing has to be fixed. Moreover, the Motor Vehicles Act said that when the thing is transported through vehicles, the unladen weight and laden weight must be determined.
Contrary to these provisions, the government has permitted to sell sand in term of 'unit' which is not a recognised measurement. At the time of the passing the government order there was no reference about the 'unit' in the Standards of Weights and Measures Act or the Motor Vehicle Act.
Due to sale of sand in terms of unit, a loss to the tune of several crores of rupees occurs to the government exchequer. Hence, the government order permitting the sale of sand in terms of 'unit' needed to be quashed, the petitioner's side said.