GI tag for basmati: HC pulls up MP govt for delay

The State said that GI Registry not considering its request, it is collecting additional evidence

Madhya Pradesh government, which has been pursuing a legal battle to include its 13 districts under the Geographical Indication tag for basmati rice, faced ire of the division bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday.

The state blamed GI registry, alleging that the latter did not take initiative to consider the state’s case even six months after the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) had decided on the case.

Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) had issued an order in February, allowing registration of Geographical Indication (GI) for basmati rice grown in various parts of seven states in the north, in response to an application by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

Madhya Pradesh’s 13 districts, where basmati rice is grown, were not selected for GI tag. Hence, the state had challenged that order. When the case came up for hearing in the Madras HC on Tuesday, it questioned why the state had taken so long in collecting the evidence. The state blamed GI registry for the delay, sighting that IPAB had asked the registrar to reconsider the matter of inclusion of the 13 districts where one million tonnes of basmati is grown by 80,000 farmers.

The court posted the matter for hearing in the second week of November.