Supreme Court refuses to stay wheat import

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) The Supreme Court today refused to stay the import of wheat by the Union government to check its soaring price.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Ravindran directed the petitioner Vandana Shiva to make a representation to the government for increasing the procurement price of wheat given to the farmers.

The petitioner has sought interim stay against the proposed import of wheat at an exorbitant rate of Rs 1680 per quintal when better quality wheat is available in the country at the rate of Rs 1000 per quintal. The petitioner had alleged that contaminated and sub-standard wheat is proposed to be imported by the government and big traders to make illegal gains to the tune of crores of rupees.

The court, however, refused to interfere with the policy decision of the government.

The petitioner had alleged the total wheat production for 2004-2005 was above 70 million tonnes, which was sufficient to meet the total demands of the country.

The government, however, denied the allegations that it had decided to import 61 lakh tonnes last year and that 6.87 lakh has not come into the country. According to the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs' Food and Public Distribution Department, 54.55 lakh tonnes has arrived in the country till May 10 2007.

According to the government, the imports are for the purpose of safeguarding the commitment under the Targetted Public Distribution System(PDS) whose requirement is 150 lakh tonnes per year. On May 3 2007, a total of 53.60 lakh tonnes of wheat has been moved to godowns in different states, out of which 32.08 lakh tonnes of wheat has already been released for distribution under the targetted PDS.

The government has denied the allegation of the petitioner that any scandal was involved or there was any collusion between the government officials and the private player for making huge illegal gains at the cost of farmers and the common consumer.

The petitioner, however, had alleged that the private players should also be told to make purchases from the farmer, as FCI makes purchases directly from farmers in order to eliminate middlemen.

The court adjourned the hearing till after summer vacation in July.

UNI