HYDERABAD: In a set back to the Telangana government, the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday stayed operation of the GO issued by the state agriculture department with regard to fixing Rs 50 as royalty per packet of the BT cotton seeds.
Vacation judge Justice M S Ramachandra Rao made this interim order in a petition filed by Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India) private limited and another challenging the GO Rt No 238 dated May 11, 2015 in so far as royalty charged by the government from its sub-licensees.
Supreme Court senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the government has no power to fix the royalty. After hearing the case, the judge granted interim orders by staying the impugned GO on royalty issue.Justice Ramachandra Rao ordered issuance of notices to the respondents to file counters.