The Hindu Business Line : TMCO cases shifted to SC

THE Supreme Court on Friday stayed all hearings on the writ petitions filed by different courts in the country against the Tea (Marketing) Control Order, 2003 (TMCO).

While staying all the proceedings, the apex court also transferred all the cases to itself. This means that the Supreme Court will now take a final decision on the future of the controversial order, issued by the Union Ministry of Commerce.

The apex court took this decision in response to a transfer petition filed by the Tea Board. At present, three separate petitions are being heard in the High Courts of Kerala, Madras and Calcutta.

Confirming the transfer of the cases to the apex court, Mr L.V. Saptharishi, Additional Secretary, Union Commerce Ministry, told reporters in Bangalore that all the traders need not be registered with the Tea Board. Only those who will be buying tea at the first point from the producers will have to register themselves. Wholesale and retail traders of tea were not covered under this order, he said.

The TMCO is seen as an attempt to bring buyers into the regulatory control of the Tea Board but the buyers feel it is unwarranted. The TMCO snow-balled into a controversy on January 6 with buyers holding up auctions all the over the country. Since January 9, they have been boycotting all sales. However, during the last week of January, the auctions resumed in Kolkata and Guwahati following an understanding. But, it ran into problems again this week with traders disrupting auction seeking written clarifications about TMCO.

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