SC Refuses To Lift Ban On Export Of Non-Basmati Rice .

The Supreme Court has refused to lift the ban on export of non-basmati rice ordered by a division bench of the Delhi High Court.

A bench of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice HL Dattu passed the order on a special leave petition filed by Central government against the interlocutory orders passed by the division bench of the Delhi High Court extending the stay on export on non-basmati rice.

The bench declined to grant any relief to the central government on the ban however directed the High Court to hear the matter on a priority basis and directed listing of the matter for hearing before the High Court on August 29.

“We are of the view that ends of justice will be adequately served by requesting the High Court to take up Writ Petition (Civil) No.5237 of 2011 and all connected matters on priority basis, hear the same on 29.8.2011 and make an endeavour to dispose of the matters as early as possible,” the bench stated after hearing all the parties.

During the hearing Solicitor General Rohington F Nariman appeared for the centre; Senior Counsel Soli J. Sorabjee appeared for the respondent; and Senior Counsels ML Verma and SB Upadhyay assisted by Sumeer Sodhi appeared for the intervenors.

Earlier a division bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Rajiv Shakdher of the Delhi High Court had passed an interim order continuing the stay on export of non-basmati rice following a bunch of petitions filed by rice exporters against the allocation of quota to 82 exporters alleging the policy to be irrational.

The High Court had directed the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) to scrutinize the 82 applications which benefitted from allocation of quota for export of non-basmati rice from the centre.

The ministry on July 7 had allocated export of 1 million tonnes of non-basmati rice to 82 exporters.

The DGFT with its notification dated July 19 allocated export quotas of 10 lakh tonnes to 82 exporters. The applications for allotments were invited through e-mail on July 21 and 22 on first- come-first-serve basis and subject to a maximum individual quota of 12,500 tonnes.

The All India Rice Exporters Association with other exporters had objected to the notification for allowing exports and alleged that only those companies would be benefited who had prior knowledge of the order. They also alleged that there was no transparency in the export policy and the notification lacked basis of allocation of quota.

Source : lawetalnews.com