As much as 85.2% of fuel dispensing nozzles in about 13% of the total petrol stations in Karnataka have been found to be defective, costing consumers. In 101 petrol stations of the 805 that were subjected to checks, the error in dispensation of fuel was found to be beyond the permissible limit of 25 ml per five litres.
A total of 3,071 nozzles across 805 petrol stations were checked, out of which 2,618 nozzles reported issues. The 805 stations checked in the last one week were deliberately chosen since the recalibration exercise of fuel dispensing nozzles there had been done less than a year ago.
The exercise comes against the backdrop of the Union government mandating inspection and recalibration by legal metrology once in 24 months instead of the 12 months now. Karnataka has a total of 5,946 petrol stations. A cumulative fine of ₹6.66 lakh has been imposed on 101 petrol stations found to have nozzles dispensing fuel above the permissible error of 25 ml per five litres.
Data provided by the State government shows that 1,480.36 crore litres of fuel were sold in Karnataka in 2024-2025. “Consumers in Karnataka could be losing hundreds of crores annually,” Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad told reporters here on Wednesday.
A total of 3,071 nozzles across 805 petrol stations were checked, out of which 2,618 nozzles reported issues.
| Photo Credit:
SUDHAKARA JAIN
“We wanted to do a scientific study of those petrol stations where the recalibration was conducted less than a year ago. The study showed us errors in big numbers. If the latest Centre’s notification is to be implemented, it could be a big blow to the consumer interest since recalibration will be done once in 24 months instead of 12. The margin of error will only increase and consumers will be affected,” he said.
The Minister said that all petrol stations will have to get their recalibration done annually under Rules 4(12) of The Karnataka Legal Metrology (Enforcement) Rules, 2011. “The inspection and calibration of nozzles in the remaining stations will be completed before December 2026.”
Pointing to the permissible error of 25 ml/five litres, he said, “There are possibilities of errors after the recalibration. Even that should not be tolerated. The fuel stations should report and get the recalibration done immediately.”
Fuel furore
Checks conducted in 805 fuel stations
Error in nozzles in 768 fuel stations
Of 3,071 nozzles checked, 2,618 had issues
Permissible limit of error: 25 ml/5 litres
Fuel stations reporting error beyond permissible limits: 101
Total fuels sales in Karnataka in 2024-2025: 1,430.86 crore litres
Consumers can complain on 1800 599 1100
Consumers can write to: [email protected]
How the error is detected
The Karnataka Legal Metrology Rules mandate every petrol station to fill up a five-litre can with a fuel dispensing nozzle before the start of business for the day to identify problems. Consumers also have the right to ask for this check to ascertain if correct quantity is being dispensed. The stations have to report to authorities for inspection and recalibration even if the quantity is within the permissible limit for error of 25 ml/five litres.
The government says stations have to display a board providing toll-free number, email id, date of calibration, and when it is due for calibration. A dashboard of all stations will be created by the government that can be accessed by the public.
Karnataka opposes two new rules
The State government has decided to oppose and not implement the Centre’s seventh amendment in 2025 to The Legal Metrology (General) Seventh Amendment Rules, 2025, (G.S.R. 905(E)) that has made recalibration of fuel dispensing nozzles mandatory once in 24 months instead of 12. The State has decided to retain the annual recalibration.
Karnataka, along with many other States, have also opposed the amendment brought to Section 24(1) of The Legal Metrology Act, 2009, in May, 2026, that allows third party government test centres to carry out inspection and recalibration, an exercise that is currently done by officials of the Legal Metrology Department.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Rizwan Arshad asked, “How can you outsource enforcement to the third party? It be will go against the interest of lakhs of vehicle owners in the State.”
Published – September 16, 2026 07:13 pm IST
