HC directs govt to check onion price

NEW DELHI: Taking judicial notice of the spiralling cost of onions, the Delhi high court directed the Centre and the Delhi government to take steps to control its prices so that common people do not suffer. Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed and Justice Vibhu Bakhru disposed of a PIL alleging inaction by the government in controlling onion prices and directing the authorities to ensure prices are brought down.

The judges on Thursday expressed unhappiness over the issue and took on record the assurances of additional solicitor general Rajeeve Mehra that major steps have been taken to control onion prices. Mehra was appearing for the central government.

Submitting a status report filed by the department of consumer affairs of the agriculture ministry, Mehra told the court that prices of onion depend on their production and arrival, and domestic prices tend to peak in September-November and fall in January-March every year. The Centre has sent a request to Maharashtra, which produces the largest quantity of onions, to supply onions to Delhi, Mehra added. The order then recorded the assurance of additional solicitor general that the Centre will aggressively persuade Maharashtra for sufficient supply to Delhi.

Appearing for the Delhi government, standing counsel Zubeda Begum told the bench that the onion price was over Rs 60 for a few days but has come down to Rs 45 in Mother Dairy outlets.

HC was hearing a PIL filed by Poonam Jain, a social worker. The PIL accused the government of turning a blind eye to illegal trade and not revising its export policy that has pushed up onion price to around Rs 70 to Rs 90 per kg. It urged the court to "direct respondents to take special measures to supply onions in the market in sufficient quantity" and to invoke the provision of Essential Commodities Act in this situation.