The District Magistrate, Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, exercising powers under Clause 3(1)(d) of the Himachal Pradesh Hoarding and Profiteering Prevention Order, 1977, has issued a notification superseding previous orders and prescribing the maximum wholesale and retail profit margins that dealers may charge on specified commodities in Bilaspur district. The notification follows the State Government's invocation of the Order through Notification No. FDS-A(3)-7/2016-1 dated 9 May 2023.
The notification covers a range of essential commodities including gur, shakkar and khandsari, sugar, foodgrains (wheat, gram, barley and rice) and their products, pulses, match boxes, paper, LPG, kerosene oil, diesel, exercise books, coarse woollen/common cloth, meat/chicken/fish, eggs, bread, tea leaves, edible oils and washing/toilet soaps. Maximum margins generally range between 2% and 5.5%, depending on the commodity and whether the transaction is wholesale or retail. Certain items such as soft coke, hard coke, slack coal and steam coal are subject to rates fixed separately by the competent authority.
The objective of the notification is to prevent hoarding and profiteering and to ensure that essential commodities remain available to consumers at reasonable prices. Dealers operating within Bilaspur district are required to adhere to the prescribed margins, and any overcharging beyond the notified limits may attract action under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Hoarding and Profiteering Prevention Order, 1977 and other applicable laws.
