Court directs govt to return seized rice stock to ISKCON

A local court has quashed the order passed by the Controller of Rationing and Director of Civil Supplies to seize 7,633 quintals of rice in the possession of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a registered charitable trust.
Additional Sessions Judge S J Kale, in the order passed last week, stated, "The order regarding confiscation is not legal and justified and therefore, same is liable to be quashed and set aside."
The seizure was carried out in November 2012 by officials of Food and Supplies Department, and an FIR was lodged against ISCKON for violation of Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

ISKCON, which approached the court, argued that the rice was meant for mid-day meal scheme. It had got the contract from the government to provide mid-day meals to children at government schools in Thane district, it told the court.
It added that mid-day meal scheme was not governed by the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act.
The court directed the authorities to return the rice stock to ISCKON.