The petition, filed by the All India Lawyers Union (AILU) through counsel Ashok Aggarwal, has urged the court to pass orders to prevent the hoarding and black-marketing of essential commodities and ensure an adequate supply in the market immediately. It has also asked the court to ensure the sale of essential commodities at reasonable prices in the open market by invoking the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

The petition has been filed in view of the rising prices of onions (Rs 40 per kg), potatoes (Rs 15 per kg), capsicum (Rs 45 per kg), ginger (Rs 50 per kg), beans (Rs 30 per kg) and cauliflower (Rs 40 per kg) during the past three months.

The petition has stated that the unprecedented rise in the prices of onions, among other things, reflects the gross failure of the authorities in disciplining the traders at both the retail and wholesale levels.

The skyrocketing prices have been trigerred by the collusion of traders and their political masters, it has alleged. The petitioner has alleged that despite holding a series of meetings to monitor the price level in recent days, the Centre and state government have done precious little to ensure an adequate supply of fruits and vegetables in the market.

The petition has stated that the government's inaction is helping the wholesalers and retailers amass huge profits by exploiting the common man. The public interest petition is to come up for hearing tomorrow.