Date:27/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/27/stories/2007102754261500.htm

National

Panel allowed trials despite injunction: PIL

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to respond to allegations that the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) allowed field trials of more genetically modified crops despite a restraint order.

On a public interest litigation petition by social and consumer activist Aruna Rodrigues, the court, by a September 22, 2006 order, restrained authorities from granting fresh approvals for field trials of GM crops. That order remains in force.

She alleged that in spite of the injunction, the GEAC at its 79th meeting held on August 8 allowed field trials of Bt. brinjal, Bt. rice, Bt. tomato, Bt. okra and transgenic groundnut.

When her application, in which she contended that the authorities had committed contempt of court, was taken up by a three-judge Bench, her counsel Prashant Bhushan explained how the order had been violated.

Additional Solicitor-General Amarendra Saran said there was no violation of the court order.

Without issuing notice, the Bench, comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices R.V. Raveendran and V.S. Sirpurkar, asked him to file a counter affidavit.

The petitioner said the GEAC’s “reckless rush” into GM foods unless checked would have an impact on “our farmers, their crop choices, our food and health, our wild places and our countryside in perpetuity.”