Delhi HC refused interim relief to Parle

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to give any interim relief to biscuit manufacturing company Parle on its plea against a government order that requires it to contribute 10 per cent of its sugar output to the central pool.

A bench comprising Chief Justice M K Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Khanna also asked the company to file a report by September 17, the next date of hearing, whether there was any change in monthly release mechanism of sugar.

Parle Biscuit Pvt Ltd had challenged an order of a single judge of the High Court that upheld the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution's decision directing it to contribute sugar to the Central Public Distribution System.

The two-member bench refused to pass any order on Parle counsel's plea that as measure of interim relief the company should be permitted to use some quantity of sugar out of two lakh bags (each of 100 kg) that were "rotting in godowns".

The monthly release order mechanism monitors how much quantity a sugar company has to contribute to central PDS. Parle has argued the monthly release order was not applicable as it was manufacturing sugar for its own consumption and the sweetener was not being sold in the market.

In view of the release order, Parle is compelled to purchase sugar from the market for its biscuit production.