SRINAGAR: In a significant move, the J&K government has directed authorities to refrain from regulating the prices of mutton and other livestock products.
The Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs issued a notification on Tuesday, instructing authorities to stop regulating the prices of livestock products.
The notification states, “The Directorates of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer affairs, Jammu/Srinagar, all district administrations, and other enforcement agencies who are regulating prices of livestock products by issuing price notifications quoting SRO-646 dated 19.12.1973 are henceforth directed to refrain from issuing or enforcing any order based on the said order.” A copy of the notification is in possession of the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Additionally, the government has revoked the Jammu and Kashmir Mutton (Licensing and Control) Order, 1973, which was issued vide SRO-646 on December 12, 1973, with immediate effect. The decision was made based on clarification received from the Government of India and inter-departmental consultations.
This action follows communication from the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution to the J&K government, stating that any order issued based on S.O 145(E) dated 15.02.1990 is no longer valid and applicable.
The Ministry advised the Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department of J&K to issue necessary directions to all concerned authorities, refraining from issuing or enforcing any order quoting S.O. 145(E) dated 15.02.1990.
The J&K government raised this matter with the Centre after the Agriculture Production Department sought clarification regarding the validity of notification S.O 145 (E) dated 15.02.1990, which delegated powers to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for regulating the specified commodities in the schedule. (KNO)
