SC Reserves Order on Pleas Seeking Postponement on Releasing GMOs into Environment

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on pleas seeking a moratorium on the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment.

A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol heard submissions from Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and advocates Prashant Bhushan and senior advocate Sanjay Parikh.

The top court directed the parties to file written submissions by January 22, 2024.

Acknowledging the technical and scientific nature of the issue concerning genetically modified crops, the top court had stated on Wednesday that it would base its decision on the environmental release of GM mustard on what is in the best interest of the country.

Earlier, the apex court had queried the Centre about why the reports of the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of genetically modified (GM) crops were not considered by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre, was asked whether the GEAC or a sub-committee of experts had ever examined the reports submitted by TEC before the October 25, 2022 decision to approve the environmental release of the transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11.

The attorney general asserted that, as a statutory body, the GEAC is not required to delve into these reports but has taken into account all pertinent scientific findings before granting approval for the environmental release.

The top court is currently hearing separate pleas by activist Aruna Rodrigues and the NGO ‘Gene Campaign,’ both seeking a moratorium on the release of any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment until a comprehensive, transparent, and rigorous biosafety protocol is established in the public domain, conducted by independent expert bodies.