Section 2 in Himachal Pradesh Specified Essential Commodities (Regulation of Distribution) Order, 2019
2. Definitions.
(1)In this order, unless the context otherwise requires.-(a)"Act" means the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955);(b)"Authorized document" means a permit or an authorization issued under this order for purchase or sale or storage for sale or distribution of any specified essential commodity;(c)"Authorized wholesaler" means the institutions (Registered with the Department), authorized to deal in the wholesale business of procurement, conversion and distribution of specified essential commodities allotted by the Government/ Department, meant to be distributed through Targeted Public Distribution System and also includes "sub-wholesaler" and Kerosene oil wholesalers;(d)"Consumer" means a person drawing any specified essential commodity through fair price shops against Ration Card issued by the specified authority declared for the area concerned in which the consumer permanently or temporarily resides;(e)"Controller" means, the District Controller, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs of the District concerned or any other officer/ official authorized by the Director to exercise all or any of the powers of the Controller under this Order;(f)"Department" means the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Himachal Pradesh;(g)"Deputy Commissioner" means the Deputy Commissioner of the District concerned;(h)"Director" means the Director of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Himachal Pradesh and shall also include the Additional/ Joint/Deputy Director of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs of Himachal Pradesh;(i)"Fair Price Shop" means a shop authorized under the provisions of clause 3 of this order for sale/distribution of specified essential commodities to the Ration Card Holders under the Targeted Public Distribution System or otherwise like State subsidized scheme, Mid Day Meal and Wheat Based Nutritional Programme etc.;(j)"Fair Price Shop Holder" means a retailer authorized under the provisions of clause 3 of this order in respect of any specified essential commodity;(k)"Family" means a joint family of all persons descended from common ancestor, who live, worship and mess together permanently as shown in the Pariwar Register of the Panchayat but persons residing elsewhere due to their profession / business shall not be included in the family for the purpose of issue of Ration card;(l)"Form" means a Form appended to this Order;(m)"Government" means the Government of Himachal Pradesh;(n)"Household" means a family unit living together in one building or in a portion of the building having a common residence and maintaining a common Kitchen;(o)"Institution" means a Hospital, a convalescent home, a sanitorium, an asylum, a school, a hostel providing meals and includes all other institutions of a like nature as may be specified by the Government;(p)"Order" means the Himachal Pradesh Specified Essential Commodities (Regulation of Distribution) Order, 2019;(q)"Public Distribution Committee" means a committee constituted by the Director, by notification, for the purpose of appointing or recommending to the Government, the names of any person or body of persons or institutions to be a wholesaler or Fair Price Shop holder in respect of specified essential commodity;(r)"Public Distribution System" means the system of distribution of Specified Essential Commodities to the Ration Card Holders on the rates and scales as specified by the Government from time to time through the network of fair price shops;(s)"Quantum" means quantity of any specified essential commodity as fixed by the Director for sale/distribution against the ration card per month from time to time;(t)"Ration Card" means a household ration card or other document issued or made monthly under or in pursuance of the provisions of this order for obtaining supplies of the specified essential commodities;(u)"Ration Card Holder" means a person to whom a ration card has been issued;(v)"Rural area" means any area or areas falling within the territorial jurisdiction of a Panchayat, but doesn't include the areas falling within any urban area;(w)"Specified authority" means an authority which issues ration card to the consumers for obtaining supplies of specified essential commodities from the fair price shop;Explanation-1. - "In urban and cantonment areas, the Ration Card shall be issued by the Food & Supply Officer/Inspector, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs in their respective jurisdiction.Explanation-2. - In rural areas, the Ration Card shall be issued by the Secretary or Panchayat Sahayak of the concerned Gram Panchayat.(x)"Specified Essential Commodity" means an essential commodity which the Director may, by notification published in the official Gazette, declare to be specified essential commodity for the purpose of this Order; and(y)"Urban area" means an area administered by a Municipal Corporation or a Municipal Council or Municipal Committee or a Nagar Panchayat and Cantonment Boards in the State.(2)The words and expressions used but not defined in this order shall have the same meanings as are assigned to them in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, National Food Security Act, 2013 and Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2015.
