Destroy the feathers imported from China: Delhi High Court

New Delhi, Feb 23 (UNI) In view of the outbreak of bird flu in the country, the Delhi High Court today rejected the plea of an importer to release the white goose and duck feathers imported from China for the manufacture of shuttle cocks.

Justice Manmohan Sarin said the importer was directed to destroy or reship the tonnes of feathers, which might threaten to inflict avian flu to people and birds.

''In view of the discussions, the rationale and the justification for the prohibition and the recent outbreak of avian flu (HPAI Virus), utmost caution should be adopted in handling the consignment,'' the order said.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade had not released the consignment which was imported by Sanjay Khanna who had imported the feathers from China for the Jalandhar-based Rajindra Sports International, South India Industries and Jagdish Sports Industries.

The consignment had arrived in India on February 4, 2004 and the authorities had not released it due to a threat of outbreak of avian flu in the country.

UNI PAT VD RAI2019