SHC asks govt about efforts being made to implement law against hoarding and black market

The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed federal and provincial law officers to file comment to explain what efforts had been taken for the implementation of Hoarding and Black market Act and the Sindh Registration of Godown Act.

The direction came on a petition seeking the enforcement of laws pertaining to the control of hoarding and black market of essential commodities in the province.

Petitioner M Tariq Mansoor submitted that in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, sanitizers and masks were sold at higher prices or were being hoarded, but government was not taking any action in this regard.

A division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar inquired whether the government had appointed any judicial officer to check the hoarding and black marketing. The petitioner submitted that the government had not appointed any judicial officer to check or monitor essential commodities under the relevant law.

The court took exception to the non-appearance of the assistant director (legal) Bureau of Supply and Prices and issued a show- cause notice to him to appear in person and submit a reply about his absence and failure to file comments on the petition.

The court directed federal and provincial law officers to file comments on what efforts had been taken for the implementation of the Hoarding and Black Market Act and the Sindh Registration of Godown Act, and adjourned the hearing till April 7.

The petitioner submitted in the petition that several laws pertaining to the check and control of the hoarding and black market of essential commodities, including the Sindh Registration of Godown Act, Hoarding and Black Market Act 1948 and Sindh Essential Commodities Price Control &Prevention of Profiting and Hoarding Act 2005, had been promulgated from time to time by the provincial government, but they but were not being enforced in letter and spirit.

He said the Sindh Registration of Godown Act 1995 was promulgated some 25 years back, but it could not be enforced properly, and this resulted in citizens facing artificial crises and shortages of essential commodities such as tomatoes, onion, sugar and wheat, and becoming victims of black marketing, hoarding and profiting by unscrupulous elements.

He said the Karachi Essential Article (Price Control and Anti-Hoarding Act) 1953 was enacted for regulating the possession, distribution and sale of essential commodities in Karachi Division, but unfortunately it was not enforced in letter and spirit.

He submitted that due to lack of enforcement of essential commodities’ prices and its distributions, the people were compelled to purchase commodities at higher prices without any check and control by the provincial and federal governments, which were supposed to ensure supplies of these commodities at notified prices.

The court was requested to call record from the provincial government with regard to the enforcement of the Sindh Registration of Godown Act and other essential commodities laws, and to direct the government to ensure the sale of essential commodities at notified rates in the province.