Karnataka HC orders official of Central govt. to inspect jaggery factory that was closed allegedly due to influence of State Minister who owns sugar factory

The High Court of Karnataka, noting allegations that a backstage jaggery factory’s closure was influenced by a existent Cabinet Minister who is besides a manager successful a backstage sugary factory, restrained officials of the State authorities successful interfering successful the affairs of the jaggery mill till further orders.

While staying the State government’s November 15 bid for closing down the jaggery factory, M/s Shree Brahmananda Sagar Jaggery Industries (SBSJI), Belagavi, the tribunal directed the Chief Director of Sugar, Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, to clasp a implicit inspection of SBSJI and its subordinate company, M/s Askins Biofuels Private Limited (ABPL), connected November 28.

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The Chief Sugar Director has been directed to taxable a broad inspection study to the tribunal connected oregon by December 9 connected what is being manufactured by the petitioner and their subordinate institution arsenic connected the day of inspection, and not what they are intending to manufacture successful future.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim bid connected a petition filed by SBSJI challenging the closure order, which was issued connected the allegations that the petitioner is manufacturing brownish sweetener though it has a licence to manufacture lone jaggery.

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The tribunal besides said that nary authoritative of the State authorities should beryllium be progressive successful the inspection by the Chief Director of Sugar.

The State government, citing reports from its officials, claimed that prima facie the petitioner mill was manufacturing brownish sweetener done vacuum instrumentality process which is contrary to the Sugar Control Order.

However, it was alleged successful the petition that the happenings and the projection of illegality against it was owing to the main manager of Alagawadi Bireshwara Sugars Private Limited, who is simply a Minister successful the contiguous government, and truthful the officers of the State are acting astatine the behest of the Minister, who is influencing the officers.

Meanwhile, the tribunal said that the State authorities could not person flexed its muscles erstwhile a quality betwixt Askins BPL and Alagawadi BSPL is pending adjudication earlier a Division Bench.