SC to hear UP sugarcane price case on September1

The Supreme Court today decided to hear the case related to Uttar Pradesh state advised price (SAP) for sugarcane in the current crop year on September 1.

The case was to be taken up on Monday as the apex court, in its previous hearing, had adjourned the hearing by a week. The case relates to UP Sugar Mills Association’s challenge to the Allahabad High Court order upholding the support price set by the state government.

The high court, in its earlier interim order, had allowed mills to pay Rs 110 a quintal, but had later revised its own order and asked mills to pay Rs 125 a quintal state advised price for normal varieties.

 

Two sugar mills — Bajaj Hindusthan and Basti Sugar Mills — had filed writs in the high court, challenging the SAP was much higher than the central government’s support price. The centre has fixed a statutory minimum price of Rs 81.18 a quintal for the current sugar year.