Law… Is it for real?
Law touches the lives of people in so many ways they are not even aware of. Registration of birth is compulsory, so is of death. And between these two registrations there are innumerable Acts, Rules, Notifications, Guidelines, Circulars, Notices and what not which control and record so many transactions in the lives of people. All these laws are either passed by Parliament/ Legislature or are released by authorities and are published in a magazine called 'The Gazette of India'. How many of us have seen such a magazine in our lifetime?
Since the last century nations are coming together and agreeing to bring uniformity into their laws. This means that a person will encounter the same set of rules and regulations in all the countries in the world. This has brought people closer and has accelerated the process of globalization.
Let me take one example to show how one particular law touches our daily lives. We all buy different commodities in a ‘pre-packed’ format from small shops to big malls. The commodities range from eatables to dry batteries to medicines. There are certain details which are mentioned on these packages. There are a set of rules prescribed called Standard of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977 for almost all pre-packed commodities.
There are certain details which should be mentioned on all these packages. They are Name & address of manufacturer, Common or generic name of commodity, net quantity, Month & day of packing, Maximum Retail Price (MRP), etc. It is specified that these details should be at a very prominent location on the package.
Since the last century nations are coming together and agreeing to bring uniformity into their laws. This means that a person will encounter the same set of rules and regulations in all the countries in the world. This has brought people closer and has accelerated the process of globalization.
Let me take one example to show how one particular law touches our daily lives. We all buy different commodities in a ‘pre-packed’ format from small shops to big malls. The commodities range from eatables to dry batteries to medicines. There are certain details which are mentioned on these packages. There are a set of rules prescribed called Standard of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977 for almost all pre-packed commodities.
There are certain details which should be mentioned on all these packages. They are Name & address of manufacturer, Common or generic name of commodity, net quantity, Month & day of packing, Maximum Retail Price (MRP), etc. It is specified that these details should be at a very prominent location on the package.
Also remember that the Rules prohibit a retailer from charging even One Rupee more than the MRP printed on a packaged product.
Moreover for Prevention of Food Adulteration mention of Colours (e.g. ‘Contains permitted Natural/ and Synthetic Colours/ Added Flavours’) and ‘Best before Upto __ date’ is also to be mentioned on food packages. In case of foodstuff the ingredients which are used for making are also to be mentioned. In case of medicines the chemical composition of the drug needs to be mentioned.
There are very few commodities where the Month & day of packing is not mentioned (Earlier milk and milk products was one, but this has now changed). In special cases like glass bottles of softdrinks which are returnable the Month & day of packing should be mentioned on the cap.
So the next time you buy any packaged commodity, don’t forget to check for these details. These are for protection for us Consumers. And also remember the laws which made it possible to view all these details which help us to make informed choices.
There are very few commodities where the Month & day of packing is not mentioned (Earlier milk and milk products was one, but this has now changed). In special cases like glass bottles of softdrinks which are returnable the Month & day of packing should be mentioned on the cap.
So the next time you buy any packaged commodity, don’t forget to check for these details. These are for protection for us Consumers. And also remember the laws which made it possible to view all these details which help us to make informed choices.
Labels: Law
posted by Shantanu | 10:01 AM
4 Comments:
Dear Shanti,
Gr8 work maan. keep it up. but i expect the main subject to be more elaborated than the examples in it. And one more suggestion...will it be posible to you to come to the same point that u start with at the end aslo so as to summerise the position/
may be i'm wrong but i also like to write a lot but not definatly on LAWWWWWWWWWWWW
any way nice to c such work...it somewhere pinches the author in u
Ritesh,
Thanks, buddy
Let the author inside you come out too..
Hi Shantanu
Interesting view point that you have put across. I wish to add that "Ignorance of Law is not an excuse" and also that "Buyer beware" are some of the law tit bits that I have learnt. I think you should elaborate on these points as well.
Thanks Ravi,
You are right. These terms are very important.
'Ignorance of the law is no excuse' is a doctrine which presumes knowledge of law for all persons. More about it on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignorance_of_the_law_is_no_excuse
'Caveat emptor'(Buyer Beware) is now outdated philosophy with the advent of Consumer Protection Laws. The new doctrine is 'Caveat Venditor' (Seller Beware)!
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