Amid the growing acceptance of electronic weighing scales among shopkeepers, the Legal Metrology department has made it mandatory for shops in the city to keep a few certified standard weights, used on a traditional balance, to help customers check the accuracy of the machines. A buyer can now place a certified weight on the electronic device to ensure that it has not been compromised.

There are over 60,000 electronic weighing machines registered with the department. Officials said these scales are favoured for being easy to handle and their accuracy, but they may also give room for tampering.