Summarize the following court judgment. Petition Nos. 3846/81	 6454 55/80	 230 249	 502 510	 524	 726 27	 777 96	 803	 1069	 1207 09	1326	439 40	1607	1691 93	1702	1703 7	1734.36	 1737 40	 1759 72	 1789 90	 1879	 1946 47	 1948	 1959	 1972 97	 2012 17	 2027 39	 2076	 2077 78	 2125 83	 2194 95	 2204 11	 2284 2326	 2361 62	2363 64	 2365 2404	2405 26	 2444 58	 2459 88	2497 2501	 2503 05	2513 19	 2520 25	2542 73	 2597	 2616 41	2642 48	 2661 63	 2665 66	2698 2700	 2702 21	 2723 26	 2730 44 2756 62	 2766 76	 2779 2802	2803 15	 2818 26	 2847 55	 2856 67	 2885 96	 2897 98	 2912 15	2917 26	 2968 76	 2980 3001	 3002 46	 3047 52	 3070 87	 3088 3102	 3165 3205	 3210 17	 3259 64	 3268 77	 3286	 3305 11	 3312 22	3325	3346	 3355	3357 70	 3371 91	 3403	 3477 82	3484 88	 3492 3504	3505 15	 3516	3517 34	3560	 3572 79	 3637	 3693 3730	 3732 36	 3757 75	 3899 3912	4053 69	4192 4229	 4261	4329	 4495	 4496 4508	4606 09	 4617 21	4622 69	 4846 75	 4978 86	 5218	5349	 5533 43	 5597 5609	 5623	 5626 42	 5728	 5746	 6577 81	 6814	 6934 42	7203	 	217 20	7409	7454 56	7484	 7641	7659	7773	7943	 7944	 8084	8089	 8090	 8192	8195	 8201	 8431	 8436	 8834	 8862	 8878 81	 8924 & 8979 of 1981. (Under Article 32 of the Constitution) Shanti Bhushan	 V.M. Tarkunde	 P.A. Francis and G.N. Dikshit. R.K. Jain	 P.B. Jain	 Pankaj Kaira	 section Mittar	 M.G. Gupta	 J B.R. Kapoor	 Miss	 Bhajan Ram Rakhyani	 S.R. Srivastava	 B.V. Tawakley	 Shobha Dikshit	 B. Dutta	 B.D. Sharma	 Miss A. Subhashini	 513 N.N. Sharma	 T.C Sharma	 A. Ghosh	 S.V. Tambwekar and Girish Chandra for the appearing parties. A The Judgment of the Court was delivered by MISRA J. In exercise of powers conferred by section 3 of the 	 Sugar Control order 1966 was issued by the Government of India	 Ministry of Agriculture. Clause S of that order empowered the Central Government to issue directions	 inner alia	 to recognised dealers regarding production	 maintenance of stock	 storage	 sale	 grading	 packing	 making weighment	 disposal	 delivery and distribution of sugar. By Order No. GSR 410 E/Ess. Com./Sugar dated the 14th of July	 1980 the Central Government issued the following directions: "In exercise of the powers conferred by clause 5 of the Sugar (Control) order	 1966	 and in supersession of the order of the Government of India in the Ministry of 'Agriculture (Department of Food) No. GSR 60 (e)/Ess. Com./Sugar	 dated the 26th February	 1980	 the Central Government hereby directs that no recognised dealer shall keep in stock at any time (1) Vacuum pan sugar	 in the places mentioned below	 in excess of the quantities mentioned against each (i) in Calcutta and extended area (a) recognised dealers who import sugar from outside West Bengal 3	500 quintals	 (b) other recognised dealers 250 quintals; (ii) in other places (a) in cities and towns with a population of one lakh or more 250 quintals; (b) in other towns with a population of less than one lakh 100 quintals. 514 (2) Khandsari (open pan sugar) in excess of 250 quintals. Provided that no recognised dealer shall hold any stock of Vacuum pan sugar or Khandsari (open pan sugar) for a period exceeding ten days from the date of receipt by him of such stock of sugar or Khandsari. Provided further that nothing in this order shall apply to the holding of stocks of sugar (i) on Government account; or (ii) by the recognised dealers nominated by a State Government or an officer authorised by it to hold such stock for distribution through fair price shops; or (iii) by the Food Corporation of India. Explanation: For the purpose of this order	 "Calcutta and extended area" means the areas specified in the Schedule to the notification of the Government of West Bengal No. 7752 F.S./14 R 92/61	 dated the 16th December	 1964. " The petitioners in this groups of petitions	 who are dealers in sugar	 seek to challenge the constitutional validity of the said order on three grounds; (I) the impugned order is not covered by section 3 of the and is Ultra vires; (2) the impugned order imposes unreasonable restrictions on the right of the petitioners to carry on their trade and so it is violative of Article 19(2)(g) of the Constitution; (3) the impugned order is also violative of Article 14 of the Constitution for two reasons: (as the petitioners have been singled out for hostile treatment from other dealers of sugar at Calcutta	 (b) the impugned order is unreasonable and impracticable. Shri Shanti Bhushan	 senior counsel appearing in one of the petitions viz.	 Writ Petition No. 3846 of 1981	 took up the first point. and urged that the impugned order is not covered by any of the clauses of section 3 of the . Section 3 of the 	 insofar as it is material for the purposes of this case	 reads: 515 "3. (1) 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 for securing their equitable distribution and availability at fair prices	 or for securing any essential commodity for the defence of India or the efficient conduct of military operations it may	 by order	 provide for regulating or prohibition the production	 supply and distribution thereof and trade and commerce therein (2) With prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred by sub section (1)	 an order made thereunder may provide (a) . . (b) . . (c). . (d) for regulating by licences	 permits or otherwise the storage	 transport	 distribution	 disposal	 acquisition	 use of consumption of	 any essential commodity. " The language of section 3 (1) coupled with clause (d) of subsection (2) of section 3 is wide enough to cover the impugned order. Section 3 (1) authorises the Central Government to pass an order for regulating or prohibiting the production	 supply and distribution of an essential commodity and trade and commerce therein if it is of opinion that it is necessary or expedient to do so for securing the equitable distribution and availability. at a fair price of the essential commodity. The same power has been made more specific by clause (d) of sub section (2) of section 3	 which provides for regulating by licences. permits or otherwise	 the storage	 transport	 distribution	 disposal	 acquisition	 use or consumption of	 any essential commodity. Sugar	 which term includes khandsari	 is an essential commodity and over the years it has become a scarce commodity. In the public interest it became essential to pass the impugned order to secure its equitable distribution and availability at fair prices. To that end it became necessary to prevent hoarding and black marketing. The expression "to secure their equitable distribution and availability at fair prices" is wide enough to cover the impugned order. Likewise	 the expression "storage and distribution" used in clause (d) of sub section (2) of section 3 should be given a liberal construction to give effect to the legislative intent of public welfare. So construed	 the impugned order is fully pro 516 tected and is not ultra vires section 3 of the 	 195 5. This leads us to the second contention	 namely	 the impugned order being violative of Article 19 (1) (g) of The Constitution inasmuch as it imposed unreasonable restriction on the right of the petitioners to carry on trade or business. A person has a right to carry on any occupation	 trade or business and only restriction on this unfettered right is the authority of the State to make a law imposing reasonable restrictions under clause (6). The expression 'reasonable restrictions ' signifies that the limitation imposed on a person in enjoyment of that right should not be arbitrary or of an excessive nature beyond what is required in the interest of the public. No cut and dry test can be applied to each individual statute impugned	 nor an abstract standard or general pattern of reasonableness can be laid down as applicable in all cases. The Court in each case has to strike a proper balance between the freedom guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (g) and the social control permitted by clause (6) of Article 19. By the impugned order the Central Government has only put an embargo on the dealers on keeping sugar in excess of the quantity specified. It was passed only with a view to prevent hoarding and black marketing	 and to ensure equitable distribution and availability of sugar at fair prices in the open market. Reliance was placed by Shri Shanti Bhushan on State of Mysore vs H. sanjeeviah.(J) In that Case the State Government of Mysore had framed rules to regulate the transit of timber	 firewood	 charcoal and bamboos from all lands in exercise of powers conferred by section 37 of the Mysore Forest Act 11 of 1900. By rule 2 framed on October 13	 1952	 it was provided that no person shall import forest produce into	 export forest produce from	 or move forest produce within	 any of the areas specified in Schedule A unless such forest produce is accompanied by permit prescribed in rule 3. On April 15	 1959 the State of Mysore issued a notification adding a proviso to rule 2 which read as follows: 517 "Provided that no such permit shall authorise any person to transport forest produce between SUN set and sun rise in any of the areas specified in Schedule A." By another notification dated September 14	 1960 the State Government introduced the second proviso to rule 2 which read: "provided further that permission may be granted to timber merchants on their request to transport timber upto 10 p.m. (22 hrs) under the following conditions: (i) the party who wishes to avail of the concession should pay a cash deposit of Rs. 1000 as security for the compliance with the timber transit rules as in force; (ii) that the deposit may be forfeited to government for breach of any of the conditions of the timber transit rules. " The dealers in timber challenged the two provisos on the grounds inner alia that they were beyond the rule making authority conferred upon the State Government by section 37 of the Mysore Forest Act 11 of 1900 and in any event the provisos imposed unauthorized restrictions on the freedom of trade	 commerce and intercourse. The High Court held that the State Government while seeking to regulate the transport of timber stopped transport altogether. This Court upholding the order of the High Court observed: "Power to impose restrictions of the nature contemplated by the two provisos to r. 2 is not to be found in any of the clauses of sub section (2) of section 37. By sub section (I) the State Government is invested with the power to regulate trans port of forest produce "in transit by land or water. " The power which the Stale Government may exercise is however power to regulate transport of forest produce	 and not the power to prohibit or restrict transport. Prima facie	 a rule which totally prohibits the movement of forest produce during the period between sun set and sun rise is prohibitory or restrictive of the right to transport forest produce. A rule regulating transport in its essence permits transport	 subject to certain conditions devised to promote trans port. " 518 This Court further observed: "If the provisos are in truth restrictive of the right to transport the forest produce	 however	 good the grounds apparently may be for restricting the transport of forest produce	 they cannot on that account transform the power conferred by the provisos into a power merely regulatory." The facts of the present cases are materially different from the facts of H. Sanjeeviah 's case (supra). In that case the impugned provisos to rule 2 completely prohibited the transport of the forest produce between sun set and sun rise. But in the cases in hand the direction enjoined a recognised dealer not to keep sugar in stock at any time in excess of the quantity specified therein. It only seeks to regulate the limit of storage of sugar and does not prohibit its storage. The case of H. Sanjeeviah	 therefore	 is not of much help to the petitioners herein. In M/s. Laxmi Khandsari & Ors. vs State of U.P. & ors.(l) this Court made the following observations about reasonable restrictions on the right conferred by Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution in the following terms: "As to what are reasonable restrictions would naturally depend on the nature and circumstances of the case	 the character of the statute	 the object which it seeks to serve	 the existing circumstances	 the extent of the evil sought to be remedied as also the nature of restraint or restriction placed on the rights of the citizen. It is difficult to lay down any hard and fast rule of universal application but in imposing such restrictions the State must adopt an objective standard amounting to a social control by restricting the right of the citizens where the necessities of the situation demand. The restrictions must be in public interest and are imposed by striking a just balance between the deprivation of right and the danager or evil sought to be avoided. If the restrictions imposed appear to be consistent with the directive principles of State policy they would have to be upheld as the same would be in public 519 interest and manifestly reasonable. Further	 restrictions may be partial	 complete	 permanent or temporary but they must bear a close nexus with the object in the interest of which they are imposed. Another important test is that restriction should not be excessive or arbitrary. The court must examine the direct and immediate import of the restrictions on the rights of the citizens and determine if the restrictions are in larger public interest while deciding the question that they contain the quality of reasonableness. In such cases a doctrinaire approach should not be made but care should be taken to see that the real purpose which is sought to be achieved by restricting the rights of the citizens is sub served. At the same time	 the possibility of an alternative scheme which might have been but has not been enforced would not expose the restrictions to challenge on the ground that they are not reasonable. " Judged in that light and on an overall consideration of the various aspects of the matter	 restrictions put by the impugned order can by no means be said to be unreasonable. It is only regulatory and not prohibitory. We now take up the last contention	 namely	 the impugned order being violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. The learned counsel seeks to invoke Article 14 on two grounds: (1) the impugned order applies two standards	 one for the dealers	 at Calcutta	 who had been authorised to keep 3	500 quintals at one time	 while the dealers at other places have been authorised to keep only 250 quintals in cities with a population of one lakh or more	 and only 100 quintals in other towns with a population of less than one lakh. F The fixation of limits for storing sugar in Calcutta and other places is not arbitrary but is based on reasonable classification. The government is the best judge of the situation in a particular State and that quantity of sugar will meet the exigencies of the situation at a particular place is purely a governmental function. For one	 Calcutta serves as a feeder line to meet the requirements of sugar to the eastern part of the country	 and therefore	 the stocks of sugar to be held by the dealers in Calcutta are not required for consumption in Calcutta alone Besides	 Calcutta being far away from the sugar manufacturing units in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh	 from where bulk of supplies are obtained	 sugar is transported by the wholesale 520 dealers in railway wagons which take sometime unusually longer time in transit. These and various other factors have been taken into consideration by the Government while fixing the storage limits of sugar for the dealers in Calcutta. His second ground for invoking Article 14 of the Constitution is that the impugned order is unreasonable and impracticable in that no dealer can be sure of the sale of sugar on any particular day. If per chance a dealer is not able to dispose of the excess sugar on a particular. day he would expose himself to punishment under the Act. No provision has been made in the order or in the rules for the purchase by the Government of the excess sugar. For the State it was contended that similar orders with regard to wheat came up for consideration in this Court in Suraj Mal Kailash Chand Ors. vs Union of India & Anr. and Bishambhar Dayal Chandra Mohan Ors. vs State of Uttar Pradesh & ors. etc.(2) when this Court upheld the validity of these orders. In view of the decision of this Court in those cases it is not open to Shri Shanti Bhushan to challenge the constitutional validity of the impugned order. Shri Shanti Bhushan	 however	 refutes the argument and says that those decisions do not stand in the way of the petitioners. The situation with regard to wheat was quite different inasmuch . s clause 25 of the impugned order in Sutlaj Mal 's case (supra) provided that the State Government or the Collector or the Licensing Authority may issue directions to any dealer with regard to purchase	 sale	 disposal	 storage or exhibition of the price and stock list of all or any of the trade articles. But there is no such provision in the impugned order in the instant case and	 therefore	 the dealers can expose themselves to punishment merely because at any particular point of time the stock was in excess of the prescribed limits. Bishambhar Dayal 's case (supra) also related to wheat. There was a scheme for the procurement of wheat by the State Government but there is no such scheme in respect of sugar. This fact distinguishes the present case for the facts of the aforesaid decision. The argument though attractive cannot be accepted. Over the years sugar has become a scare commodity and people have to 521 purchase it even at a prohibitive price. In the circumstances it A cannot be expected that the dealers would not be able to sell the sugar in their stock. There is absolutely no difficulty in selling the sugar at any time at the prevalent market price. If in a rare case there is difficulty on that score we hope and trust that the concerned Government would allow a reasonable time within which the petitioners are permitted to dispose of the excess quantity of sugar	 if any. In any case	 in some given case there may be some hardship but it cannot be said on that account that the impugned order is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. For the foregoing discussion the writ petitions must fail. They are accordingly dismissed. In the circumstances of the case there shall	 however	 be no order as to costs. S.R. Petitions dismissed.

In exercise of powers conferred by section 3 of the 	 Sugar Control order 1966 was issued by the Government of India	 Ministry of Agriculture Clause 5 of that order empowered the Central Government to issue directions	 inter alia	 to recognised dealers regarding production	 maintenance of stock	 storage	 sale	 grading	 packing	 making weighment	 disposal	 delivery and distribution of sugar. By order No. GSR 410 E/Ess. Com/Sugar dated 14 7 1980	 the Central Government issued directions to the effect that no recognised dealer shall keep in stock at any time (a) Vacuum pan sugar in excess of	 (i) in Calcutta and other extended area recognised dealers who import sugar from outside West Bengal	 3500 quintals; other recognised dealers 250 quintals; (ii) in other places in cities and towns with a population of one lakh or more 250 quintals and with a population of less than one lakh 100 quintal and (b) Khandsari (open pan sugar) 250 quintals. Further no recognised dealer shall hold any stock of vacuum pan sugar or khandsari (open pan sugar) for a period exceeding 10 days from the date of receipt by him of such stock of sugar or khandsari. The recognised dealers	 there fore	 assailed the constitutional validity of the said order on three grounds: (I) the impugned order is not covered by section 3 of the and is ultra vires (2) the impugned order imposes unreasonable restrictions on the right of the petitioners to carry on their trade and so it is violative of Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution: (3) the impugned order is also violative of Article 14 of the Constitution for two reasons: (a) the petitioners have been singled out for hostile treatment from other dealers of sugar at Calcutta: (b) the impugned order is unreasonable and impracticable. Dismissing the petitions	 the Court ^ HELD: 1	 The order dated 14 7 1980 is not ultra vires section 3 of the . The expression "to secure their equitable 511 distribution and availability at fair prices"	 is wide enough to cover the impugned order Likewise	 the expression "storage and distribution" used in clause (d) of sub section (2) of section 3 of the essential Commodities Act	 1955 should be given a liberal construction to give effect to the legislative intent of public welfare. Sugar	 which term includes khandsari	 is an essential commodity and over the years it has become a scarce commodity. In the public interest it became essential to pass the order to secure its equitable distribution and availability at fair prices. To that end it became 'necessary to prevent hoarding and black marketing. [515 F H	 516 A E] 2. Restrictions put by the impugned order can by no means be said to be unreasonable. It is only regulatory and not prohibitory. The direction enjoined recognized dealer not to keep sugar in stock at any time in excess of the quantity specified therein. It only seeks to regulate the limit of storage of sugar and does not prohibit its storage. By the Impugned order the Central Government sought to prevent hoarding and black marketing	 and to ensure equitable distribution and availability of sugar at fair prices in the open market.[516 E	 519 D] A person has a right to carry on any occupation	 trade or business and the only restriction on this unfettered right is the authority of tho State to make a law imposing reasonable restrictions under clause (6). The expression reasonable restrictions ' signifies that the limitation imposed on a person in eojoyment of that right should not be arbitrary or of an excessive nature beyond what is required in the interest of the public. No cut and dry test can be applied to each individual statute impugned	 nor an abstract standard or general pattern of reasonableness can be laid down as applicable in all cases. The Supreme Court in each case has to strike a proper balance between the freedom guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (g) and the social control permitted by clause (6) of Article 19. [516 B D] State of Mysore vs H. Sanjeeviah	 	 explained and distinguished. M/s. Laxmi Khandsari & Ors. vs State of U.P. & Ors.	 	 followed. The order is not violative of Article 14 of the constitution. The fixation of limits for storing sugar in Calcutta and other places is not arbitrary but is based on reasonable classification. The government is the best judge of the situation in a particular State and what quantity of sugar will meet the exigencies of the situation at a particular place is purely a governmental function. For one	 Calcutta serves as a feeder line to meet the requirements of sugar to the eastern part of the country	 and therefore	 the stocks of sugar to be held by the dealers in Calcutta are not required for consumption in Calcutta alone. Besides	 Calcutta being far away from the sugar manufacturing units in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh	 from where bulk of supplies are obtained	 sugar is transported by the wholesale dealers in railway wagons which take sometime unusually longer time in transit. These and various other factors have been taken into consideration by the Government while fixing the storage limits of sugar for the dealers in Calcutta. [519 F H	 520 A] 512 The fact that over the years sugar has become a scarce commodity and people have to purchase it even at a prohibitive price	 the dealers would be able to sell the sugar in their stock without difficulty at any time at the prevalent market price. In a rare exceptional case there may be some hardship on that score but it cannot be said	 on that account	 that the order is violative of Article 14 of the Constitution. In such cases	 we hope and trust that the concern ed Government would allow a reasonable time within which the dealers could dispose of the excess quantity of sugar	 if any. [520 G	 5 21 A C] Suraj Mal Kailash Chand & Ors. vs Union of India & Anr.	 Writ Petitions Nos. 8334 48 of 1981 decided on September 25	 1981 (unreported case): Bishambhar Dayal Chandra Moharl & ors	 etc. vs State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors. etc. Writ Petitions Nos. 2907 2908 of 1981 and connected writ petitions (a group of SOS writ petitions) decided on November S	 1981	 followed.