Lok Sabha Question No. 2550 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-11
Subject: Black Marketing
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Smt. Geniben Nagaji Thakor

## Government of India

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2550(OIH) TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.12.2024

## BLACK MARKETING

2550.  SMT. GENIBEN NAGAJI THAKOR: (OIH)

## Will  the  Minister  of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state

- (a) whether any steps are being taken by the Government to check black marketing;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether cases of black marketing have come to light in Gujarat during the last three years;and
- (d) if so, whether any action has been taken by the Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h (श्री बी.एल. वर्मा )

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI B.L. VERMA)

(a) &  (b) : The Essential Commodities Act, (EC Act), 1955 and the Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, (PBMMSEC Act), 1980 provide the legislative and administrative  foundations  to  the  Government  to  regulate  prices,  production,  supply,  distribution  etc.  of essential  commodities  for  maintaining  or  increasing  their  supplies  and  for  securing  their  equitable distribution and availability at fair prices.

The  Prevention  of  Blackmarketing  and  Maintenance  of  Supplies  of  Essential  Commodities (PBMMSEC)  Act,  1980  is  complementary  to  the  EC  Act,  1955.  It  is  implemented  through  the  State Governments/UT  Administrations  for  preventing  the  illegal  and  unethical  trade  practices,  profiteering, hoarding  and  black-marketing  of  essential  commodities  etc.  by  ordering  preventive  detentions  for  six months of persons involved in such activities.

Further, In order to check cartelization, hoarding, and black-marketing of essential commodities, a Committee was constituted in 2016 under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs with the representatives of Intelligence Bureau, Enforcement  Directorate, Directorate of  Revenue Intelligence, Income Tax and Delhi Police. So far 21 meetings of this group have been held.

(c) & (d) : Yes sir. Cases of black marketing have been reported by the Government of Gujarat during the last three years and accordingly actions have been taken to curb them. The details of action taken by the Government of Gujarat to prevent instances of black marketing are annexed at Annexure.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2550 FOR 11.12.2024 REGARDING BLACK MARKETING.

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| No.   | Details                                                      | April 2021 to March 2022   | April 2022 to March 2023   | April 2023 to March 2024   | April 2024 to Oct 2024   |
|-------|--------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------|
| (1)   | (2)                                                          | (3)                        | (4)                        | (5)                        | (6)                      |
| 1     | No. of inspections                                           | 19858                      | 23545                      | 39659                      | 25824                    |
| 2     | Amount of seizure of commodities and equipments (₹ in lakhs) | 2639                       | 1112                       | 1075                       | 2888                     |
| 3     | Amount of confiscation (₹ in lakhs)                          | 675                        | 741                        | 368                        | 238                      |
| 4     | Amount of Deposit confiscated (₹ in lakhs)                   | 55                         | 42                         | 57                         | 29                       |
| 5     | Amount of Penalty (₹ in lakhs)                               | 503                        | 733                        | 620                        | 341                      |
| 6     | No. of Licenses Suspended                                    | 259                        | 169                        | 197                        | 91                       |
| 7     | No. of Licenses Cancelled                                    | 89                         | 46                         | 75                         | 48                       |
| 8     | No. of Court Cases                                           | 20                         | 12                         | 19                         | 16                       |
| 9     | No. of PBM Cases                                             | 10                         | 23                         | 47                         | 12                       |

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