Examine the rationale of enacting the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 was enacted to regulate the production, supply and distribution of, and trade and commerce in, certain commodities which are declared as essential commodities and specified in the Schedule to that Act. The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 was enacted to ensure easy availability of essential commodities to the consumers and to protect them from exploitation by unscrupulous traders. The Act provides for regulation and control of production, distribution and pricing of commodities, which are declared as essential for maintaining or increasing supplies or for securing their equitable distribution and availability at fair prices. The Preamble to the Act says that it is an Act to provide in the interest of the general public for the control of the production, supply and distribution of, and trade and commerce in, certain commodities. The dominant object and intendment of the Act is to secure equitable distribution and availability at fair prices of essential commodities in the interest of the general public. The interest of the general public necessarily connotes the interest of the consuming public and not the interest of the dealer.