M/S PRECIOUS OIL CORP. vs STATE OF ASSAM

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the appellants under Section 7(1)(a)(i) of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 for violating the Lubricating Oil and Greases (Processing, Supply & Distribution Regulation) Order, 1987. The Court found that the appellants failed to obtain the necessary license and produced proper books of account, constituting a breach of Clauses 3, 4, and 5(5) of the Control Order. The sentence of one month imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 3,000 each was affirmed, emphasizing the importance of compliance with regulatory requirements in the processing of essential commodities.