The Madras High Court on Wednesday said a petitioner who sought to declare the approval for the release of Bt Brinjal in the country as null and void, is at liberty to file an appeal against the approval, if he is so interested.
The First Bench consisting of Chief Justice H.L. Gokhale and Justice K.K. Sasidharan passed the order while disposing of a petition by K. Thiruthanikachalam, a Siddha medical practitioner.
The petitioner sought a declaration as null and void the approval granted by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee in October last year for the release of the variety.
When the matter came up before the Bench, the Additional Solicitor-General, M. Raveendran produced a statement showing the decision on commercialisation of Bt brinjal, dated February 9, issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.
In the statement, the Ministry had announced its decision “to impose a moratorium on the release of Bt brinjal till such time independent scientific studies establish to the satisfaction of both the public and professionals the safety of the product from the point of view of its long-term impact on human health and environment, including the rich genetic wealth existing in our country.”
The statement also said the government had decided to interact with all scientific institutions and civil society groups who submitted various representations to the Minister.
Mr. Raveendran said the petitioner was at liberty to make his representation to the Ministry concerned as an appeal was available to the petitioner.
Later, the Bench passed the order.
