Centre must present correct information to Supreme Court on GM mustard, say scientists and activists

Centre should be transparent in its filings since the issue concerns the life and livelihoods of all citizens of the country, they say

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A day ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on a petition against the testing of GM mustard, a group of scientists and activists urged the Centre to present “correct information” before the top court. Alleging that the Centre’s affidavit on the matter was an attempt to mislead the court, they said the Centre should be transparent in its filings since the issue concerns the life and livelihoods of all citizens of the country.

Former Director of the Directorate of Rapeseed Mustard Research Dhiraj Singh said the country’s production of rapeseed-mustard had increased by around 38% in the past decade.

“We are self-sufficient when it comes to mustard oil demand and supply, even as only 15% of India’s edible oil consumption is from mustard. Further, farmers already have more than a dozen non-GM mustard hybrid options in the market which are well-performing, and high-yielding than GM hybrid Agronomic research results are also promising with significant improvements in yields. In such a context, where is the need for GM mustard? Why is the Supreme Court being told that we need this option, which is risky and irreversible,” he asked.

They urged the Supreme Court to immediately pass orders to uproot and destroy GM mustard crop planted in multiple sites, in defiance of court orders. Kavitha Kuruganti of the Coalition for a GM-Free India said that at least in five areas the Centre was actively providing incorrect information to the Supreme Court.

“A herbicide tolerant crop has not even been tested as a herbicide tolerant crop and India does not have any specific regulatory protocols for the same. Conflict of interest continues along with opaque functioning and hiding of bio safety data,” she said.