The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday ordered the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) to submit comments over the recent increase in milk prices, on the next date in office. The division bench comprising SHC Chief Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi issued the directive while hearing a constitutional petition filed by Rana Faizul Hassan, wherein Sindh government’s counsel had appeared before the court and submitted that the determination of milk price came under the CDGK matter and not the provincial government.
After hearing arguments from the provincial government’s side, the bench directed the city government to submit its comments in this regard. Challenging the recent milk price hike, the petitioner had moved the SHC seeking the withdrawal of the increase in milk prices while pleading establishment of consumer courts for the protection of consumers’ rights.
The plaintiff submitted that the milk price was increased by Rs 10 per kg recently but the CDGK had failed to control it and because of which, yogurt is being sold at Rs 90 per kg against the will of the government. Besides, due to the absence of consumer courts in Sindh, the retailers unduly increase the prices of all essential items without any checks, he stated.
The appellant stated that a law to protect consumers’ rights was promulgated in the Punjab province in 2005 and was good enough to provide relief to the consumers on daily basis, as it entitles the district coordination officers (DCOs) to address and entertain the complaints of consumers, while taking action against the retailers if they are involved in purchasing items on higher rates allocated by the government.
The DCOs are also authorised to take action against retailers involved in purchasing substandard items. However, there are no such laws in the Sindh province, he added. The petitioner submitted that due to the absence of laws regarding consumers’ protection in the province, the consumers are continuously being exploited by the retailers and the prices of essential commodities are being increased unofficially without any legal action taken against them.
The Sindh chief secretary, the Karachi administrator, the CDGK DCO, Karachi Dairy Farm Owners Association president Haji Akhtar and Nagori Dairy Farm Association president Sikandar Nagori were cited as respondents in the petition, which pleaded that the court issues an order to initiate legislation regarding promulgation of consumers’ rights law and to control the price hike of essential items.
The plaintiff also prayed the court to issue a restriction order on milk price and take action against milk traders under 1977 act.