Bengaluru, September 16, 2026: Karnataka Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Minister Rizwan Arshad has called for the restoration of annual verification of petrol and diesel dispensing units, stating that extending the verification period to two years could affect fuel measurement accuracy and consumer interests.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the Minister said the Legal Metrology Department had initiated inspections following complaints regarding fuel dispensing accuracy at petrol pumps across the State. Of the 5,946 petrol and diesel stations in Karnataka, 805 dispensing pumps operated by major oil companies across various districts have been inspected continuously over the past eight days, he said.
According to the Minister, 101 fuel pumps were found to have errors exceeding the permissible limit of 50 mL per 10 litres. Cases have been registered against the operators of these pumps, and a total penalty of ₹6.66 lakh has been imposed. The inspections will continue, he added.
Concern over two-year verification cycle
Minister questioned the Central Government's decision to extend the verification period for petrol pump dispensing units from one year to two years.
He said the change was introduced through the seventh amendment to the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, notified as GSR 905(E) in December 2025. According to him, the extension was made without the support of a scientific report demonstrating that the longer interval would maintain measurement accuracy.
Purpose of periodic verification and recalibration, he explained, is to identify deviations in fuel dispensing and prevent consumers from receiving less or more fuel than the quantity paid for. Minister said the inspections indicate that dispensing accuracy can vary over time because the units contain technical and mechanical components. He argued that extending the verification interval could increase the risk of measurement deviations going undetected for longer periods.
Minister cites possible consumer losses
Referring to the inspection findings and average error calculations, the Minister said the extension to a two-year verification cycle could result in losses of hundreds of crores of rupees annually for consumers in Karnataka.
He based the broader calculation on fuel sales of 1,430.86 crore litres in Karnataka during 2024–25, citing figures published by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Minister urged the Central Government to withdraw the decision to permit verification once every two years, citing the interests of vehicle owners, motorists and consumers.
Objection to private verification centres
Minister also opposed the Central Government's move to permit Government Approved Test Centres (GATCs) to undertake verification and stamping of petrol and diesel dispensing units.
He referred to GSR 346(E), dated May 8, 2026, and urged the Union Government to withdraw the notification, arguing that the verification and stamping process should continue to prioritise consumer protection. Minister cited Section 24(1) of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, under which verification of petrol and diesel pumps is undertaken by Legal Metrology Department officials.
Online dashboard planned
Department will launch an online dashboard providing information on the verification and stamping status of petrol pumps across Karnataka, the Minister announced. Proposed dashboard is intended to help consumers access information on whether fuel dispensing units have undergone government-certified verification and stamping.
2,500 pumps due for verification by December
Minister said the Department would complete accuracy inspections and certification of approximately 2,500 petrol and diesel pumps whose verification validity is due to expire by December 2026, before the expiry deadline.
Consumers can file complaints
Department has also opened a toll-free helpline for complaints related to inaccurate weights and measurements, including suspected discrepancies at petrol pumps. Consumers can register complaints through: Toll-free helpline: 1800 599 1100 Email: clm-Im-ka@nic.in
Minister reiterated that the department's guiding principle is “No Less, No More, Just Exact” - ensuring that consumers receive the precise quantity for which they pay.
Keywords: Karnataka petrol pump inspection, Rizwan Arshad, fuel measurement errors, Legal Metrology Karnataka, petrol pump penalty, annual fuel pump verification, Citizen News Puttur