(iii) of any books of accounts and documents which in the opinion of such person, may — THE ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES ACT, 1955

[(iii) of any books of accounts and documents which in the opinion of such person, may

3 [(iii) of any books of accounts and documents which in the opinion of such person, may [(iii) of any books of accounts and documents which in the opinion of such person, may be useful for, or relevant to, any proceeding under this Act and the person from whose be useful for, or relevant to, any proceeding under this Act and the person from whose custody such books of accounts or documents are seized shall be entitled to make copies custody such books of accounts or documents are seized shall be entitled to make copies thereof or to take extracts therefrom in the presence of an officer having the custody of such thereof or to take extracts therefrom in the presence of an officer having the custody of such books of accounts or documents.]] books of accounts or documents. |] 3 [(iii) of any books of accounts and documents which in the opinion of such person, may 3[(iii) of any books of accounts and documents which in the opinion of such person, may be useful for, or relevant to, any proceeding under this Act and the person from whose be useful for, or relevant to, any proceeding under this Act and the person from whose custody such books of accounts or documents are seized shall be entitled to make copies custody such books of accounts or documents are seized shall be entitled to make copies thereof or to take extracts therefrom in the presence of an officer having the custody of such thereof or to take extracts therefrom in the presence of an officer having the custody of such books of accounts or documents.]] books of accounts or documents. |] (3) Where any person sells any essential commodity in compliance with an order made with (3) Where any person sells any essential commodity in compliance with an order made with reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2), there shall be paid to him the price therefore as hereinafter reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2), there shall be paid to him the price therefore as hereinafter provided:― provided:— (3) Where any person sells any essential commodity in compliance with an order made with (3) Where any person sells any essential commodity in compliance with an order made with reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2), there shall be paid to him the price therefore as hereinafter reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2), there shall be paid to him the price therefore as hereinafter provided:― provided:— (a) where the price can, consistently with the controlled price, if any, fixed under this section, (a) where the price can, consistently with the controlled price, if any, fixed under this section, be agreed upon, the agreed price; be agreed upon, the agreed price; (a) where the price can, consistently with the controlled price, if any, fixed under this section, (a) where the price can, consistently with the controlled price, if any, fixed under this section, be agreed upon, the agreed price; be agreed upon, the agreed price; (b) where no such agreement can be reached, the price calculated with reference to the (5) where no such agreement can be reached, the price calculated with reference to the controlled price, if any; controlled price, if any; (b) where no such agreement can be reached, the price calculated with reference to the (5) where no such agreement can be reached, the price calculated with reference to the controlled price, if any; controlled price, if any; (c) where neither clause (a) nor clause (b) applies, the price calculated at the market rate (c) where neither clause (a) nor clause (6) applies, the price calculated at the market rate prevailing in the locality at the date of sale. prevailing in the locality at the date of sale. (c) where neither clause (a) nor clause (b) applies, the price calculated at the market rate (c) where neither clause (a) nor clause (6) applies, the price calculated at the market rate prevailing in the locality at the date of sale. prevailing in the locality at the date of sale. 4 " [(3A) (i) If the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary so to do for controlling the {(3A) (i) If the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary so to do for controlling the rise in prices or preventing the hoarding, of any food-stuff in any locality, it may, by notification in rise in prices or preventing the hoarding, of any food-stuff in any locality, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), the price at the Official Gazette, direct that notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), the price at which the food which the food- -s stuff shall be sold in the locality in compliance with an order made with reference to stuff shall be sold in the locality in compliance with an order made with reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2) shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of this sub-section. clause (f) of sub-section (2) shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of this sub-section. 4 [(3A) (i) If the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary so to do for controlling the "{(3A) (i) If the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary so to do for controlling the rise in prices or preventing the hoarding, of any food-stuff in any locality, it may, by notification in rise in prices or preventing the hoarding, of any food-stuff in any locality, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), the price at the Official Gazette, direct that notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (3), the price at which the food-stuff shall be sold in the locality in compliance with an order made with reference to which the food-stuff shall be sold in the locality in compliance with an order made with reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2) shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of this sub-section. clause (f) of sub-section (2) shall be regulated in accordance with the provisions of this sub-section. (ii) Any notification issued under this sub-section shall remain in force for such period not (ii) Any notification issued under this sub-section shall remain in force for such period not exceeding three months as may be specified in the notification. exceeding three months as may be specified in the notification. (ii) Any notification issued under this sub-section shall remain in force for such period not (ii) Any notification issued under this sub-section shall remain in force for such period not exceeding three months as may be specified in the notification. exceeding three months as may be specified in the notification. (iii) Where, after the issue of a notification under this sub-section, any person sells foodstuff of (iii) Where, after the issue of a notification under this sub-section, any person sells foodstuff of the kind specified therein and in the locality so specified, in compliance with an order made with the kind specified therein and in the locality so specified, in compliance with an order made with reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2), there shall be paid to the seller as the price therefor― reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2), there shall be paid to the seller as the price therefor— (iii) Where, after the issue of a notification under this sub-section, any person sells foodstuff of (iii) Where, after the issue of a notification under this sub-section, any person sells foodstuff of the kind specified therein and in the locality so specified, in compliance with an order made with the kind specified therein and in the locality so specified, in compliance with an order made with reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2), there shall be paid to the seller as the price therefor― reference to clause (f) of sub-section (2), there shall be paid to the seller as the price therefor— (a) where the price can, consistently with the controlled price of the foodstuff, if any, fixed (a) where the price can, consistently with the controlled price of the foodstuff, if any, fixed under this section, be agreed upon, the agreed price; under this section, be agreed upon, the agreed price; (a) where the price can, consistently with the controlled price of the foodstuff, if any, fixed (a) where the price can, consistently with the controlled price of the foodstuff, if any, fixed under this section, be agreed upon, the agreed price; under this section, be agreed upon, the agreed price; (b) where no such agreement can be reached, the price calculated with reference to the (5) where no such agreement can be reached, the price calculated with reference to the controlled price, if any; controlled price, if any; (b) where no such agreement can be reached, the price calculated with reference to the (5) where no such agreement can be reached, the price calculated with reference to the controlled price, if any; controlled price, if any;

Section 3