KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday observed that the Central government is bound to take into account the plight of rubber farmers in the state and directed the Centre to consider the representation of former MP P C Thomas who is also the chairman of Kerala Congress with regard to the difficulties being faced by rubber planters.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Shaffique passed the order on a petition filed by P C Thomas citing the woes of rubber farmers. Thomas appeared in person before the court and sought a directive to increase the import duty on natural rubber to 40 per cent and fix minimum price at Rs 200. Thomas submitted that the reduction of import duty on rubber was against the recommendation of a seven-member expert panel given in 2010. The government had not considered the panel recommendations while evolving the import policy of rubber.
The court observed that the price of natural rubber in domestic market is low on account of import and it is a matter to be considered by the Central government as it involved scientific and legal study of market condition. The import duty for a particular commodity is fixed by the government, taking into account various factors including domestic condition.