Section 4
Power of Price Controller to fix prices and charges
The Price Controller may, with the approval of the Minister, from time to time by order published in the Gazette—
(a)
fix maximum prices, either wholesale or retail, which may include charges for delivery, for the sale of any goods or of any quantity of any goods;
(b)
fix the maximum charge that may be made by any person for any service in relation to the supply, repair, maintenance, packing, carriage or storage of goods, which shall include the provision of such materials as may be specified in the order;
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(c)
fix the maximum charge that may be made for the hire of any goods and the maximum total price, including any charge in respect of interest or hire, for any goods the subject of hire purchase agreements; and
(d)
fix the maximum price of any second-hand goods, whether for sale by persons who trade in those goods, or by the private owners of those goods, either by declaring the maximum price or charge or by prescribing the manner in which the maximum price or charge shall be ascertained.
(2)
The Price Controller may fix a maximum price or a hire charge or a charge for services in respect of any goods for one area which differs from the maximum price or the hire charge or the charge for services fixed for another area in respect of like or similar goods, and may fix special maximum prices for the sale of relief supplies or any other goods not procured in the ordinary course of trade or not intended to be sold to the general public in the ordinary course of trade.
(3)
The Price Controller may fix the amount of the deposit which any person, selling any price-controlled goods subject to the condition that the container of those goods is to be returned, may require in respect of the container, and may prescribe the amount, which that person shall, on the return of the container, refund to the person by whom the container is returned and the conditions subject to which the refund shall become payable.
(4)
The maximum price of price-controlled goods shall be deemed to include any sum payable or paid as consideration for an option to purchase the goods.
(5)
All courts and any person to whom an appeal lies under this
Act, shall take judicial notice of notifications published in the
Gazette under this section.