Swadeshi Jagran Manch expresses its pleasure over land mark order of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, in which It has once again upheld the provisions of 3(j) in Indian Patent Act (IPA) and have refused to grant stay Delhi High Court Bench’s judgement revoking patent of BT cotton seed.
This judgement has once again exposed Monsanto’s bluff about the patent right over BT cotton seeds. Earlier on April 11th, the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi had denied Monsanto’s patent over BT cotton and asked them to apply for breeder’s rights under Indian laws.
This is a victory for the Indian constitution and the farmers of Bharat against a company raj of Monsanto and MNC poison cartel. The Court has rejected Monsanto appeal on the patent on Bt Cotton seed and cited Plant Variety Protection and Farmers’ Rights Act (PVPFRA) and the Indian Patent Act in this regard.
Monsanto, in the past has collected over 8000 crores in illegal royalties from Indian farmers. This judgement once again comes as a relief for thousands of Cotton farmers who are now hoping to find Seeds price reduced.
Swadeshi Jagran Manch once again demands that in pursuant to this order Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) modifies its earlier order, in which it had fixed the trait value at Rs. 39 per packet of BT cotton seeds under the wrong impression that Monsanto possesses the patent over the seed. This implies that after the proposed amendment the price of BT cotton seed packet would be brought down from Rs. 740 to Rs. 700.
It’s a day for farmers and all citizens to celebrate.
Competition Commission of India (CCI) also may take note of this judgement and complete their investigation at the earliest and order for full refund of Rs. 7000 crore paid by 8 million poor farmers to Monsanto since 2002.
This shall become a warning to all MNCs so that they won’t resort such dubious methods to cheat Indian farmers in future.
Dr. Ashwani Mahajan
National Co-convenor, Swadeshi Jagran Manch
Courtesy: VSK Bharat
