Jute replaces plastics in grain, sugar packing

The Calcutta High Court yesterday quashed the central government's notification dated July 1, 2004, relating to use of jute bags in foodgrains and sugar, and directed that the entire quantity of foodgrains and 90 per cent of sugar being moved be packed in jute bags.

The order would require foodgrain and sugar packers to revise their packaging plans till the order was vacated. In addition, the order would hit makers of plastics bags as these were being used to substitute jute bags.

Responding to a plea made by the Bengal Chatkal Mazdoor Union (BCMU), the division bench of Justice A Kabir and Justice A K Bisi said packaging of foodgrains and sugar should be done as directed till the central government's standing advisory committee heard the submission of jute growers, jute workers and others and submitted a fresh jute bag packaging policy to the central government.

BCMU had filed the writ petition seeking a court order directing that jute growers and jute mill workers be heard by the standing advisory committee. A single judge had refused to pass any order on the issue.

BCMU then moved an appeal before the division bench. In the mean time, the central government had issued a fresh jute packaging notification on July 1, 2004, reducing the use of jute bags in packing foodgrains and sugar.

On May 21, 2004, the High Court had issued a stay on the order passed by the NDA government also reducing use of jute bags in foodgrains and sugar.

BCMU stated that in defiance of an existing order of the High Court, the newly constituted Congress led, Left Front supported, UPA government further reduced, on July 1, the use of jute bags in foodgrains and sugar packaging for one year.

The July 1 order directed packaging companies and agencies to use jute bags in foodgrains packaging to the extent of 60 per cent and sugar to the extent of 50 per cent only.

BCMU alleged in its affidavit that the July1s order was bad but violated the High Court's order of May 21. The July 1 jute packaging order should therefore be set aside, the affidavit said.

Paras Nath Tripathi, the president of Jute Textiles Workers Union affirmed the affidavit.