The High Court today directed the commerce secretary to form a high-powered committee to probe the price hikes of agricultural products including potato, onion and eggs, and ordered for submission of a report.

The court also issued a rule asking officials concerned of the government to explain why their failure to prevent price hiking of these products should not be declared illegal.

In the rule, the HC asked them to show causes why they should not be directed to establish market infrastructure near the places of agricultural products for their proper sale and purchase.

The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah issued the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Manoj Kumar Bhowmik seeking necessary directives to this effect.

Deputy Attorney General Tushar Kanti Roy represented the state during hearing of the petition.