In a major relief to the UPA government at the Centre which is already facing heat due to alarming inflation, the Supreme Court today restrained the rice exporters from exporting rice till further orders.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and G S Singhvi also stayed all the proceedings pending in various High Courts of the country challenging the ban imposed by the Union government on export of rice in order to avoid famine like situation in the country.

There are 44 writ petitions pending in various High Courts filed by rice exporters.
The central government rushed to the Supreme Court after Andhra Pradesh High Court permitted four rice exporters to export 35,000 MT of rice.

With global rice stocks falling at a record low, the centre had imposed ban on October 15 last year. However, the government allowed the export of rice stocks that had reached port godowns.

The government had also increased the minimum export price for Basmasti to discourage exports.

The apex court also issued notices to various rice exporters on a petitiom filed by the centre seeking transfer of all the petitions pending in various High Courts to the Supreme Court for speedy disposal.

Some of the exporters also managed to get permission from the High Court for exporting rice to countries like Bangladesh, Nigeria and other African countries.

Today's order is a major relief for Manmohan Singh government rattled by alround inflation in the country which has broken records of the last twenty-five years.

By Ms.Bobby Aanand, Metropolitan Jury.

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