Delhi HC Closes Lawsuit By Pak Firm For Restraining Centre From Permitting Rice Exports

The Delhi High Court on Thursday has closed the proceedings in a lawsuit filed by Pakistani entities seeking an injunction against the Indian government to prevent it from permitting rice exports under the trade name ‘Super Basmati’.

The high court has dismissed the suit for non-prosecution since nobody appeared on behalf of the plaintiffs Trading Corporation of Pakistan Private Limited, Rice Exporters Association of Pak and Basmati Growers Association. It stated that the plaintiffs haven’t prosecuted the lawsuit since 2020.

As per the Trading Corporation of Pakistan Private Limited website, its shares are owned by the Ministry of Commerce of Government of Pakistan.

The plea sought an order of permanent injunction directing the Government of India not to give effect to a May 24, 2006 Gazette Notification which permitted exports of evolved Basmati rice or any rice from India under the name or variety or classification or trade name of ‘Super Basmati’.

However, the counsel for the government of India submitted that as per a September 18, 2017 notification issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, the seed production of all varieties of Basmati rice notified under the Seeds Act, 1966 is restricted to the geographical indication registered rice growing areas of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, parts of UP and Jammu & Kashmir.