ENFORCEMENT OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES
ACT AND REGULATIONS
According to the
Annual Report of the Department of Consumer Affairs, 126 persons
were convicted under various provisions of Essential Commodities
Act, 1955 during 2002.As per reports received from State governments
and UT administrations, 70370 raids were conducted, 1762 persons
arrested and 3852 persons prosecuted during this period.. The
Essential Commodities Act, 1955 gives the Central government powers
for the control of production, supply, distribution etc. of essential
commodities for maintaining or increasing supplies and for securing
and their equitable distribution and availability at fair prices.
The centre is also monitoring the action taken by State Governments
and UT Administrations to implement the provisions of the Essential
Commodities Act 1955.
The items declared
as essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act,
1955 are reviewed from time to time in the light of liberalised
economic policies in consultation with the concerned Ministries/Departments
administering these commodities. The number of such commodities,
which stood at 70 in the year 1989, has come down to 18 at present
through periodical reviews, according to the Annual Report.
The prevention of
Black Marketing and Maintenance of supplies of Essential Commodities
Act, 1980 empowers the government to detain persons whose activities
are found be prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies of commodities
essential to the public. During the year 2002, 99 persons were
detained under they Act.
