Judgment

RAY, C.J.:- These writ petitions under Article 32 dismissed on 5 April, 1974. Reasons were to be given later on. These are as follows:

2. The petitioners asked for a writ of mandamus restraining the respondents from denying the petitioners their quota of levy sugar which they had been receiving under the Levy Sugar (Supply Control) Order, 1972.

3. Up to 1967 production, price, and distribution of sugar were controlled by the Government of India in exercise of the powers conferred on it by the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the orders made thereunder.

4. Every dealer in sugar was required by the Sugar Dealers Licensing Order, 1962 to obtain a licence for trading in sugar. The licences were required for any person who stored more than 10 quintals of sugar at a time for purposes of sale. The licences were issued annually. They were renewable.

5. In 1971 the Central Government provided for partial decontrol of sugar by which producers were required to sell a part of the total production at the price fixed by the Government under the Sugar Control Order, 1966. The rest of the production could be sold by the producers in what is called "free market .

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6. The Central Government k