K.T. Sankaran, J.

This batch of Writ Appeals and Writ Petitions are disposed of by a common judgment since common questions relating to interpretation of the provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 (hereinafter referred to as "the Standards Act"), the Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as "the Enforcement Act") and the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977 (hereinafter referred to as "the Rules") are involved in these cases.

2. W.A.Nos.218 of 2003 and 1098 of 2003 arise out of O.P.No.16488 of 1998. The Original Petition was filed by Godrej/GE Appliances Limited, first respondent in the Writ Appeals. These Writ Appeals are being dealt with at first so that the decision herein can be followed, to the extent possible, in

other cases.

3. O.P.No.16488 of 1998 was filed for the following reliefs:

"(a) for an order and declaration of this Honble Court that the provisions of Standards of Weights and Measures Act, 1976 and the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977 and the Standards of Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1985 do not apply to the p