Amidst rampant price manipulations, hoarding and market syndication to jack up prices without rhyme or reason, the government's move to replace an antique law named the Control of Essential Commodities Act 1956 with the Essential Commodities Act 2025 deserves applause. For decades, the list of essential commodities and the penalties for their manipulation have been determined by a 1956 law that has long outlived its relevance in today's volatile global and local market dynamics. The extent of its obsolescence is evident from the fact that it even lists cigarettes among essential commodities. How such an outdated law managed to remain in force even after five decades of independence is a serious question in itself.
The proposed law rightly seeks to update the list of essential commodities to reflect present-day household needs. Reportedly, rice, wheat, flour, poultry, eggs, fish, milk, potatoes, cooking essentials, detergents, and even toothpaste and safe drinking water are set to be brought under its purview. More importantly, it aims to introduce stricter punitive measures, including five to eight years of imprisonment along with fines for those found guilty of hoarding, price-fixing, or violating market orders. Such deterrence, if implemented rigorously, could go a long way in curbing the syndicate culture that has kept consumers hostage for years.
Yet, if past experience is anything to go by, legislation alone cannot stabilise markets. Over the years, several laws have been enacted to protect consumer rights, ensure food safety and promote fair competition. But most of them remain effective only on paper. The Consumers' Rights Protection Act 2009, for instance, has failed miserably to safeguard people's rights to safe food and services. More than one and a half decades after its passage, the consumers' rights continue to be undermined virtually in every sphere of life. Citizens are forced to buy adulterated foods, fake medicines and even contaminated baby food at unfair prices. They risk their lives under the scalpels of fake doctors and are compelled to submit to the whims of unscrupulous traders, transport owners and workers. Institutions such as the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) were formed to enforce these laws, but they too have fallen short of expectations due to structural weaknesses and lack of capacity.
It is therefore clear that the government's real challenge lies not in repealing outdated laws and passing new ones, but in ensuring their rigorous enforcement. As long as enforcement remains weak, food adulteration, price manipulation and market syndication will continue to flourish, rendering even the most well-intentioned legislation ineffective. For the new law to succeed, regulatory bodies such as the DNCRP must be equipped with adequate authority, manpower and independence to act decisively against violators. If enforced strictly and impartially, it could bring the much-needed relief to millions of households struggling with the frequent price hike of essential goods. At a time when most consumers are tormented by relentless inflationary pressures, they deserve more than lip service and false hope. The government must prove that it truly means business. The Essential Commodities Act 2025 must not become yet another paper tiger.
