HC gives 2 weeks time to NDDB, Guj govt over PIL on milk units

The Gujarat High Court today granted two weeks time to the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the state government to file their replies on a PIL over milk procurement units in Saurashtra region.
The division bench of Acting Chief Justice V M Sahai and Justice R P Dholaria, granted more time to the board and the government.
The PIL, filed by Junagadh-based milk producer Mulu Rawalia in May last year, stated that thousands of small and marginalised milk producers in Saurashtra region were affected after the NDDB handed over the units, from where Mother Dairy used to procure milk, to Maahi Milk producers company.

"Due to this, the regular milk procurement units of Mother Dairy were closed. Besides, the norms of Maahi Milk producers' company can't be followed by the small milk producers in the region," the PIL filed through advocate Jigar Gadhvi said.
Therefore, the closure of milk procurement units in Saurashtra region should be held "illegal", it said.
On November 5, the high court gave three weeks time to NDDB and the state to file affidavit in the case.

The court had also asked Mother Dairy, NDDB and the state government to clarify that as to why the milk procurement collection points in Saurashtra region were closed down.

The high court had sought details of the cooperative milk societies and existing milk centres in Saurashtra.
However, since the NDDB and state did not file the affidavit in the given time, the high court has today granted more time and posted the further hearing on December 11.