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Unregulated field trials on crops draw SC ire
Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, December 16
The Supreme Court has cautioned against permitting unregulated genetic field trials on various crops and told the government that it should take into account the opinion by experts against such trials having far-reaching consequences.

“Today there is a worldwide cry against these things. See the experience in other countries,” a Bench of Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Mr Justice C.K. Thakker and Mr Justice R.V. Raveendran told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Amarendra Shaaran, defending the government on the issue.

Stating that “nature is nature” and there should not be much tampering with it unless results were authenticated by laboratory tests, the court directed the Genetic Engineering Authorising Committee (GEAC), apex regulatory body, to examine field trial being done by Delhi University.

While seeking the report from the GEAC by January next, the court said research in laboratories could go on as it was necessary for development of science but there could be reservations on field trials without authenticated results.

“It is too serious a matter to be considered,” the court said The direction was issued by the court yesterday while hearing a PIL by noted environmentalist Aruna Rodrigues, challenging unregulated field trials on various crops, which, according to her, posed a serious threat of contamination of traditional crops in India.

Her counsel said various multinational companies had made India a testing ground without taking safety steps and at present at least field trials on 150 crops were going on without the approval of the GEAC.

Rodrigues had also questioned the constitution of the GEAC, alleging that it was packed with members who had direct or indirect connections with multinational companies engaged in such trials.

In view of this, the court had asked the government to induct independent members in the GEAC and sought a panel of names from it earlier.