ACT NO. 18 OF 1981 [2nd September, 1981.] An Act to make certain special provisions by way of amendments to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, for a temporary period for dealing more effectively with persons indulging in hoarding and blackmarketing of, and profiteering in, essential commodities and with the evil of vicious inflationary prices and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. WHEREAS for ensuring the availability of essential commodities at fair prices, it is necessary to curb the hoarding and blackmarketing of, and profiteering in, such commodities;
AND WHEREAS for dealing more effectively with persons indulging in such anti-social activities and the evil of vicious inflationary prices, it is necessary to make certain special provisions by way of amendments to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), for a period of fifteen years; BE it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:--
| 