They have been asked to ensure that mills get raw jute at Rs 6,500 per quintal
They have been asked to ensure that mills get raw jute at Rs 6,500 per quintal
The Calcutta High Court recently directed the Jute Commissioner of India to take steps to provide raw jute to mills at Rs 6,500 per quintal and take action against those selling it at a higher rate. Mill owners have lauded the High Court order which may pave the way for resumption of operations in mills in West Bengal. As per reports, around 16 mills have closed down due to non-availability of raw materials, rendering about 50,000 workers jobless.
“The Jute Commissioner should take necessary steps to ensure that raw jute is available at the price mentioned in the notification dated September 30, 2021,” said Justice Amrita Sinha’s February 22 order. In a notification dated September 30, 2021 issued by the Jute Commissioner, Ministry of Textiles, the price of jute for 2021-22 till June 30, 2022 was fixed at ₹6500 per quintal.
The court had also directed that the Jute Commissioner “shall be open to take all necessary steps against the person, agency or company selling raw jute at the rate enhanced by the rate fixed in the notification”.
Mills filed petition in HC
There are about 60 jute mills on the banks of the Hooghly river spread across North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly districts which employ more than 2.5 lakh workers and many mills have stopped their operations due to non-availability of raw jute. Price fixed by the government. A writ petition was filed by representatives of the Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) seeking implementation of last year’s notification by the Jute Commissioner. In December 2021, representatives of the IJMA had written to the jute commissioner for compliance with the notification and then approached the court. Jute commissioner Moloy Chandra Chakraborty, in a letter to the president of the Jute Balers Association in October 2021, had directed against publishing quotations in excess of the fair value prescribed under the statutory order.
“The court’s order is significant in two respects that it directs the Jute Commissioner to take all steps against the person, agency or company selling raw jute at inflated rates and takes cognizance of the letter dated December 28 and decides on the same. was told.” A Kolkata-based industrialist who runs a jute mill in the state said.
Earlier this year, a meeting of several trade unions, mill owners and representatives of both state and central governments was held, but with no success.
The matter will be heard on March 15.