INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - NOVEMBER 16^th - NOVEMBER 30^th - 2007

HIGH COURT DECLINES TO VACATE STAY ON PALM OIL IMPORT

Kerala High Court has refused to accept the plea of the state and central government to vacate its stay on the import of palm oil through Kochi port. Justice S Sirijagan has also posted the case for further hearing. The state government had filed an impleading petition in the case, seeking to lift the stay order against banning of import of palm oil arguing that it would affect state farmers. Though the state and central government counsels requested to prohibit import of palm oil through Kochi, the court refused to intervene. The Union government had submitted that the notification banning the import was issued on the basis of Foreign Trade Regulations Act, 1992, pursuant to its policy decision. It had the authority to regulate, prohibit and restrict import and export of palm oil.