(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any judgment, decree or order of any court or other authority or any agreement, any action taken or anything done or omitted to be done or purported to have been taken or done or omitted to be done under any direction or order issued by the Central Government under clause 4 or clause 5 of the Sugar (Control) Order, 1966, made under section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), at any time during the period commencing on and from the 14th day of June. 1999 till the day on which the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2003 receives the assent of the President, shall be deemed to be, and deemed always to have been, for all purposes, as validly and effectively taken or done or omitted to be done under sub-section (3D) or subsection (3E), as the case may be, of section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, as if the said sub-sections had been in force at all material times.
(2) For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that no act or omission on the part of any person shall be punishable as an offence which would have not been so punishable if this Act had not come into force.