1. The petitioner is an incorporated company having its registered office at Bombay, carrying on business of producing and selling iron and steel. It has got an office at Ernakulam and a stock-yard at Cochin in the State of Kerala for the purpose of selling the above goods. Iron and steel are essential commodities under S.2 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). S.3 of the Act provides that, if the Central Government is of opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do for maintaining or increasing supplies of any essential commodity or securing their equitable distribution and availability at fair prices, it may by order provide for regulating or prohibiting the production, supply and distribution thereof and trade and commerce therein. The section also confers powers on the Central Government to make orders in respect of the several matters mentioned therein. S.4 provides that an order under S.3 may confer powers and impose duties upon the Central Government or the State Government or Officers and Authorities of the Central Government or the State Government, and may contain directions as to exercise of any such powers or disc