K. JANARDHAN PILLAI & ANR. ETC. ETC. vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS. ETC. ETC.

The Supreme Court held that raw cashewnuts qualify as 'foodstuffs' under Section 2(a)(v) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and thus cannot be declared an essential article under Section 2(a) of the Kerala Act. The Court emphasized that the term 'foodstuffs' should be interpreted broadly to include raw materials that can be processed into food. Consequently, the State Government's declaration of raw cashewnuts as an essential article was quashed, affirming that essential commodities remain so even when used for industrial purposes or export.