Petitioner Pradeep Bhavnani says prices of vegetables like onion and potato have become exorbitant since January this year, and alleged that the Centre and State governments had failed to rein in retail and wholesale dealers.

While farmers had not in any way benefitted from the price rise, the dealers were minting money by indulging in hoarding and all through, the government was a mute spectator, he said.

The government's decision to make the import of onion duty-free has also not served the purpose, as prices have risen from Rs 20 a kilo to an unaffordable Rs 60, he said.

Meanwhile, two public interest petitions of the same nature are before the Allahabad and Delhi high courts.

While the Allahabad High Court was yet to make up its mind on issuing notice to the Government -- with two judgesdiffering on whether the government's failure to check the price rise fell within their domain at all -- the Delhi Government has told the High Court that ``adequate steps were being taken to bring prices under control.'' One of the judges, Justice M Katju, issued notice to the Central and State Governments, observing that the right to secure essential commodities at reasonable prices was a part of the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

However, the other judge, Justice S L Saraf, held the matter did not merit judicial interference as the control of prices was part of the government's economic policy and depended on market forces. Thus, it fell exclusively within the legislative and executive domain. The Chief Justice will now refer the contentious issue to an appropriate bench.

The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to clarify its stand on the invocation of the Essential Commodities Act and what steps it had taken taken till date to prevent hoarding and black marketing ofvegetables, including onions and potatoes.

The All-India Lawyers' Union, the petitioner in the Delhi High Court, has prayed for a direction to the Government to prevent hoarding and ensure adequate supply of vegetables.

The City Government has informed the High Court that the prices of onion rose due to a bad crop. It also said that keeping in mind the situation was the same all over the country, it was for the Centre to invoke the Essential Commodities Act.