DU seeks permission from SC to sow mustard seeds

New Delhi, Oct 13 (UNI) The Delhi University (DU) has moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to sow seeds of newly developed mustard variety DMH-II for experimental purposes in its fields at least by third week of the current month.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker today directed the petitioner Aruna Rodrigues and others to file their reply to the DU application for impleadment in the case within a week. DU has been told to file rejoinder to the reply within a week thereafter and the matter directed to be listed after 5 weeks.

The apex court had earlier restrained field trials having commercial overtones in its order dated Sept 22,2006.

The DU in its application has contended that the restraint order has the effect of restraining even research activities which are in their preliminary stages and which are required to undergo thorough trials and tests before being approved for commercial use.

DU, a premier educational institution set up by the government in 1922, has the department of Genetics in South Campus in particular the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP).

Pleading for relaxation in the restraint order the DU has argued that complete ban of genetic manipulation activities including those meant for research activities was not in public interest as research activities are far removed from commercial activities.

The petitioners in their petition had pleaded that all genetically modified foods are harmful for human health and MNCs can not be allowed to thrive at the cost of public health.

UNI AKS/SC RP HT1837