'No Substantial Decline In Tomato Prices': Madras High Court Permits Koyambedu Market Traders To Avail Temporary Parking Till Pongal

The Madras High Court has allowed the interim arrangement of unloading perishables in an earmarked place in Koyambedu Market, in a bid to control soaring tomato prices, to continue till the Pongal Festival is over."Although some improvement has been seen in the prices, such decline has not been at the expected level. However, the number of truckloads have steadily increased since the last fortnight. The court feels that the interim arrangement may continue for a period of three weeks till the Pongal Festival is over. Thereafter, the situation can be reviewed after both parties file their reports. Aforesaid arrangement to continue for the next three weeks. Post the matter on 20th January, 2021 for reviewing the workability of arrangement made", Justice R Suresh Kumar noted in the order.In a dispute between Koyambedu Market Management Committee and the Thanthai Periyar Tomato Traders Association over parking facilities for cargo unloading, the High Court had last month directed the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to earmark an area of at least one acre for loading/ unloading in the market. Today, the Market Management Committee filed its status report on the interim arrangement along with photographs, annexures and other documents. According to the report, the earmarked place has been made available to all licensed tomato traders in Koyambedu Market with effect from 30th November, 2021.The court then observed that despite the existence of a place earmarked for unloading imported tomatoes, the high prices of the commodity has not come down significantly.The Committee submitted in response that though the previous order was in pursuance of the court's 'noble intention' to alleviate the burden on consumers, the prices of the commodity depends heavily on other external factors like the quantum of production, and the current requirement to import tomatoes from other states (excluding Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh).The petitioner on the other hand submitted that the truckloads have been steadily increasing and assured the court that suitable measures will be taken to improve the purchase of tomatoes even further in the coming days.The Court then noted that whereas the number of trucks entering the market for unloading stood at a meagre two lorries at the beginning whereas by 15th December, it has now reached a number of 18-19 trucks.Accordingly, the interim arrangement has been extended. However, the court also noted that there is sale of tomatoes within the boundaries of the unloading ground itself, quite contrary to the strict mandate made against it by the court in its previous order."You can sell the tomatoes only from the designated selling points", the court directed the wholesale tomato traders part of the Association. Therefore, in today's order, the court directed the committee to maintain strict vigilance and take action against any trader who indulges in retail selling within the unloading ground. Another contentious issue raised before the Bench by the petitioner was that the land allotted for unloading only measures 50 cents, which is not in compliance with the court's direction to earmark an acre. "The only contravention now alleged by the petitioner is that the Committee allotted only 50 cents while the respondent assures that the ground was allotted after precise measurements which indicates that the area adds up to 94 cents. However, exact linear measurements must be taken and filed by the next date of hearing." An impleadment request has also been made in the matter by another association of Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex. However, the court has decided that it will take up the application later. The interim direction was issued in the main writ petition moved by the traders on the grievance that the respondent authorities were denying the small traders permission to avail the open space of 84 cents since the market reopened in September 2020. They had intimated to the Court that the soaring prices of the fruit can be brought under control if adequate parking facilities are provided to unload the cargo. Case Title: Thanthai Periyar Tomato Traders Association v. Member Secretary & Ors. Case No: WP/17503/2021 (Local Auth.)

'No Substantial Decline In Tomato Prices': Madras High Court Permits Koyambedu Market Traders To Avail Temporary Parking Till Pongal

Sebin James

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