HC order on govt to protect mangoes remains in force
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a High Court order that directed the government to monitor, through executive magistrates and law enforcers, mango orchards in Rajshahi and major harvesting areas to prevent spraying of toxic chemicals on mangoes.
Chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC Justice Md Nuruzzaman rejected a petition filed by the state seeking stay on the HC directive, considering that the petition was not placed properly.
The HC order will remain in force following the SC order, Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar told The Daily Star.
He said following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, the HC on April 9 directed the Rajshahi divisional commissioner to take necessary steps in seven days in this regard.
The HC also ordered the authorities concerned to monitor markets and storehouses with surveillance teams so that harmful chemicals could not be sprayed on fruits, and submit a compliance report in 30 days, DAG Bashar said.
He said the state has decided not to move the stay petition after going through the contents of the HC directive.
Meanwhile, Advocate Manzill Murshid, who moved a writ petition before the HC for deploying police at mango orchards in Rajshahi region, said he is yet to get the certified copy of the HC order.
The attorney general's office filed the petition with the SC on behalf of the state on April 15, seeking a stay on the HC directive.
Comments