NEW DELHI: Centre on Monday directed all states and Union territories to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against hoarders as several cities announced curfew and lockdown in an attempt to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission.
Prices of the essential supplies including food items, drugs, hygiene products and essential services will not increase and will be available at fair prices.
The notification came after Nidhi Khare, additional secretary, department of consumer affairs, ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution held a meeting with the principal secretaries from States/UTs.
The officials reviewed the availability and price situation of essential commodities across the country. The prices of the essential commodities in different mandis of the states were also shared with the States/ UTs.
During the meeting, it was emphasized that the states/ UTs are empowered to act against the unscrupulous traders and hoarders for the maintenance of supplies of the essential commodities.
The ministry has advised states to form joint teams of food and civil supplies, legal metrology controllers, food safety, health and police members at the state and district level for effective surveillance to avoid a demand-supply mismatch.
The ministry also advised states/UTs to undertake publicity and awareness activities to mitigate panic buying of essential commodities.
Can you be detained for hoarding essential goods during curfew
Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 gives powers to control production, supply, distribution, etc., of essential commodities and the same have been delegated to the States/UTs.
Under Section 3 of the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 any person may be detained, for a maximum period of 6 months, with a view to preventing him from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supplies of commodities essential to the community.
The department of consumer affairs administers the “Essential Commodities Act, 1955” and the “Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980”.
Both these Acts were enacted in order to ensure the availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices to the consumers and to protect them from exploitation by unscrupulous traders and hoarders.