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Mr. Sanjay Parikh
Mobile: - 9891496748
Ms. Indrani Barpujari
Mobile:- 9968430382
12
August, 2008
Gene Campaign’s writ petition in the Hon’ble Supreme Court,
asking for an overhaul of the rules and regulations governing
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Gene Campaign’s writ petition in the Hon’ble Supreme Court,
asking for an overhaul of the rules and regulations governing
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) came up for hearing
before the Supreme Court today. Gene Campaign had filed a writ
petition on January 7, 2004 praying for changes in the
regulatory regime governing GMOs, since the rules are
confused and ambiguous and decision taken by the regulatory
agencies are adhoc and arbitrary.
Mr. Sanjay Parikh, Counsel for Gene Campaign argued that the
Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has not complied
with the earlier orders of the Hon’ble Court. In an earlier
order dated February 13, 2008, the Supreme Court had directed
the GEAC to disclose the guidelines under which approvals of
GM crops are granted by it. Mr. Parikh said that in the
absence of GEAC guidelines for approval of either import of GM
products or for contained or large scale trials of GM crops,
the entire exercise of granting approvals is rendered
arbitrary and illegal. GEAC has also failed to comply with an
earlier order of the Court dated April 8th, 2008,
whereby it was directed to make public all data concerning
allergenicity and toxicity of GM Crops under trial.
A three judge Bench of the Supreme Court comprising of Chief
Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice
J.M. Panchal heard the matter and directed the GEAC to take
action to ensure compliance of these earlier orders.
Indrani Barpujari
for
Dr. Suman Sahai | 