This batch of cases can be dealt with together, as a common question has been raised by the writ petitioners.

The State Government, with a view to ensure that essential commodities are made available to the cardholders for a reasonable and affordable price, has been supplying the essential commodities through a network of fair price shops established across the breadth and length of the State. It is stated that approximately 42,000 fair price shops have been established. The State Government also makes available ration cards for each family. Depending upon the income of the family, cardholders are identified, on a broad basis as below poverty line or above poverty line, as the case may be. The essential commodities become available to each family at specified quantities. As a regulatory measure, the prices of all these essential commodities are heavily subsidized. Thus, the social objective of ensuring that a large section of the society sustains itself, at the same time, for ensuring that the respective dealers, who undertake distribution of the essential commodities to the ration cardholders also survive, a small percentage of margin money is provided as their commissio