Unit system of measures to sell sand by TN against rules: HC

The Madras High Court today observed that the 'unit' system of measurement followed by Tamil Nadu government to sell sand was against central rules as it should be sold on the basis of "tonne".
The court, which was hearing a PIL petition by an advocate, said sand should be sold according to "weight" and not measurement.
The petitioner contended that as per central government's act of 2009, solid items should be sold according to weight.
Though the Centre had in 2011 ordered that sand be sold according to kilogramme weight, the Tamil Nadu government was selling river sand on "unit" (measurement) basis, he submitted.

The state government's Joint Commissioner for Weights and Measures and PWD officials said sand was being sold on unit basis as per an all-party meeting decision in 2008 and a Government Order passed the same year.
The court noted that the Central Weights and Measures Act clearly stated that sand should be sold in kg/tonne.
It could not be permitted to be sold in units, the court said and reserved its orders for November 18.