The Essential Commodities Act, 1955

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The Essential Commodities Act, 1955

THE ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT, 1955 ACT NO. 10 OF 1955 1*

[1st April, 1955.]

An Act to provide, in the interests of the general public, for the control of the production, supply and distribution of, and trade and commerce in, certain commodities.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:--

Short title and extent.

1. Short title and extent. (1) This Act may be called the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

(2) It extends to the whole of India 2***.

Definitions.

2. Definitions. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--

5*[(ia) "Code" means the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)]

4*[(iia)] "Collector" includes an Additional Collector and such other officer, not below the rank of Sub-Divisional Officer, as may be authorised by the Collector to perform the functions and exercise the powers of the Collector under this Act;'].

(a) "essential commodity" means any of the following classes of commodities:--

(i) cattle fodder, including oilcakes and other concentrates;

(ii) coal, including coke and other derivatives;

(iii) component parts and accessories of automobiles;

(iv) cotton and woollen textiles;

3*[(iva) drugs.

Explanation.--In this sub-clause, "drug" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (b) of section 3 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940;]

(v) foodstuffs, including edible oilseeds and oils;

(vi) iron and steel, including manufactured products of iron and steel;

(vii) paper, including newsprint, paperboard and straw board;

(viii) petroleum and petroleum products;

(ix) raw cotton, whether ginned or unginned, and cotton seed;

(x) raw jute;

(xi) any other class of commodity which the Central Government may, by notified order, declare to be an essential commodity for the purposes of this Act, being a commodity with respect to which Parliament has Extended to and brought into force in the State of Sikkim (w.e.f. 7-1-

1976) vide. Notifn. No. S.O. 28 (E), dated 7-1-1976

[See footnote 1 for this section]

power to make laws by virtue of entry 33 in List III in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution;

(b) "food-crops" include crops of sugarcane;

1*[(cc) "order" includes a direction issued thereunder;]

2*[(d) "State Government", in relation to a Union territory, means the administrator thereof;]

1*[(e) "sugar" means--

(i) any form of sugar containing more than ninety per cent. of sucrose, including sugar candy;

(ii) k...

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