JUDGMENT

A.K. SIKRI, J.

The Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 (for short, the ‘Act’) contains the provisions whereby certain industries mentioned in the First Schedule to the said Act are brought under the control of the Union Government. It mentions, vide Entry 25 of the First Schedule, “sugar industry” as well, to be ‘scheduled industry’. The effect thereof is that by virtue of Sections 11 and 12 of the Act, compulsory licensing is required in respect of sugar industry. Sugar is also one of the essential commodities covered by Essential Commodities Act, 1955. In respect of such essential commodities, Union Government is empowered to fix the prices of the product and also to regulate the distribution and supply of such products. In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the Union Government promulgated the Sugarcane Control Order, 1966 which, inter alia, provided for the minimum price of sugarcane to be fixed, power to regulate the distribution and movement of sugarcane and power to issue licenses to cane crushers etc. Clause 11 provides that the Central Government may delegate to the State Government or any Officer of t