Mahyco gets a chance to contest Karnataka ban on Bt cotton

Agri-biotech and seed company Mahyco, which has been banned from selling two Bt cotton seed varieties in Karnataka but got no prior show-cause notice on the prohibition, has got an opportunity from the High Court to contest the state government’s ‘proposal’ on ban.

The relief came as the Karnataka High Court turned the state government’s order on ban into a show-cause notice on the proposal to keep Mahyco away from selling Bt cotton seeds.

In its order dated March 22, the state government had banned Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) from selling Bt cotton seed varieties “MRC-7351” and “Nikkiplus” in the 2014-15 crop year, following reports of lower crop yields. The company was also blacklisted.

The High Court said that the state government’s order on ban “may treated as proposal” against which Mahyco will file objections within five days.

The company had moved the High Court contending that no show-cause notice was issued before the government came out with the ban order on the ground that the two Bt cotton seed varieties did not perform as expected during the 2013—14 crop year, affecting yields across seven districts in the state.

Taking note that the State Government accepted there was no show-cause notice given to the company, a Bench of Justice CR Kumaraswamy in its April 8 order directed the State Government to receive objections from Mahyco and pass the final order by giving the company an opportunity.

The court passed the order after accepting the submission of the state government that the order banning sale of Bt cotton seeds by Mahyco be treated as proposal.

It was in 2006, agri-biotech and seed company Mahyco had got permission from the Centre to sell Bt cotton seed varieties “MRC-7351” and “Bollgard-II” for commercial cultivation in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The Mumbai-based company produces seeds for a wide range of crops including hybrid cotton, hybrid field crops and hybrid vegetables. It has 15 production units in India.