MASKS AND SANITISERS CONSIDERED AS ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES

The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 is an act of the Parliament of India which has been developed to ensure the delivery of essential commodities as and when necessary, especially in times of emergency situations. The Act, lays down the list of essential items which are needed for the basic survival of the citizens within the country and make their delivery obligatory.

The Parliament has the power to amend the list according to the prevailing situation, such that they can add or remove any of the items which have been provided for. Moreover, the legislation also provides the State with the power to control the supply-demand and the price of these goods, and make sure that there is no form of black marketing or hoarding of these products and are not being sold at very high prices.

The Act mainly aims to ensure that such declared essential commodities are produced, supplied and distributed in a fair and proper manner, such that they are made available to all, and are of the right quality. Moreover, it also ensures that such goods are not sold at hiked prices, and are not being hoarded and black marketed. This implies, that in case where the Act is breached, it may lead to the imposition of some liabilities on the person(s) who is violating them.

The Act consists of many commodities including foodstuffs, certain specific drugs, pulses, edible oils, petroleum and other natural resources, necessary for the day to day work and responsibilities. 

Accordingly, in light of the recent circumstances, with rapidly increasing cases of COVID-19 coming on the surface, there was a recent amendment made to this Act, wherein two new essential commodities were added into the list, i.e. hand sanitisers and masks. 

The reason being that these two commodities are the need of the hour, since they are the two most important and commonly used preventers of the virus, and would ultimately protect their users. 

As and when the situation stabilises, these two commodities maybe then removed from the schedule, since they have been added only temporarily.