The Gujarat High Court, on Friday, issued show cause notices to the central government and the Tea Board of India and granted a stay order restraining them from implementing the provisions of the Tea Marketing Control Order (TMCO) passed by the government.
A petition challenging various provisions of the TMCO was filed by the Western India Tea Dealers Association and Gujarat Tea Processors & Packers Limited through thei counsels.
The petitioners challenged the directives issued by the Tea Board which related to the definitions of manufacturers and buyers. The petitioners also challenged the provision of the order, which laid down conditions that buyers had to be present physically during the auction of tea.
The petition came up for preliminary hearing and further hearing on the matter has been scheduled for three weeks later. Auctions in Kolkata today were normal.