Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 1: In order to regulate the rates of essential commodities, Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed all Deputy Commissioners to verify that the rate list is being displayed by the shopkeepers in their shops and take strict action against the violators.
The direction has been passed after the CA&PD counsel T H Khawja (AAG) submitted before the court that a circular be issued by the department calling all the retailers to display the rate list of all essential commodities in the shops.
“The said circular is directed to be issued by Director CA&PD within two weeks and the Deputy Commissioners of all the Districts are directed to verify as to whether the shopkeepers are keeping the display boards in their shops”, Division Bench of Chief Justice and Justice Tashi Rabstan today directed.
Court further directed for strict against in accordance with law against those shopkeepers who are found not having kept the Display Boards in shops. “Strict action shall be taken against the default shopkeepers”, court added.
CA&PD counsel also submitted before the court that department will also monitor it and if any retailer is found selling the commodities other than the rates fixed by the Government, then appropriate action will be taken against those retailers.
Court apprised the court that for fixing the maximum retail sale rate of vegetables and fruits a notification was issued on December 2014 thereafter another notification was issued on June 2015 for fixing the rates and again another notification was issued in August 2015 and notification for retail sale rate of poultry and poultry products was issued on June 8.
Petitioner in the PIL had sought direction upon the concerned authorities to adhere to the price lists as published by them and to execute the same on ground level and to take all measures to maintain the mass and weight as the allegation in the PIL was that price of diverse commodities vary from one street to another and keep on shaking at the sweet will of vendors.
Court while closing the PIL with these directions and made it clear that if any other person including petitioner thereafter shall have any further grievance, it is open for him to approach the concerned authority first and thereafter can knock the door of this court.
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