Red sanders: SC seeks responses from AP, Centre, but auction to continue
22 Nov 2014 9:53 AM IST
The state had gone ahead with the auction only after getting proper clearance
The auction of red sanders is scheduled from November 24 to December 1
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government on a plea seeking prohibition on export of Red Sanders, an endangered category under international law.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi and senior advocate Nageshwar Rao, appearing for AP government, to file their responses to the petition filed by the NGO Common Cause.
The petition filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan sought a direction to the Centre and the AP government not to permit any export of red sanders wood in any form, but in the form of finished products.
AP forests minister Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy told this newspaper that the sale of red sanders via e-auction through global tenders would be held as per schedule. He said that the SC had not stayed the the auction. He added the state had gone ahead with the auction only after getting proper clearance from international and Central government bodies. He said the outcome would be in favour of the state.
Responding to a question on the notice issued by the Supreme Court, the minister noted that the apex court had not stayed the auction. The auction of red sanders is scheduled from November 24 to December 1.
He pointed out that the state government went ahead with the red sanders sale only after getting an authorisation from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Director-General of Foreign Trade under the Exim Policy.
MrGopalakrishna Reddy added that the state government had done nothing wrong in connection with the red sanders sale and said he was confident that the outcome would be in favour of the state.
The petitioner also pleaded for a direction to quash the decision to export Red Sanders wood in log form. Red Sanderswood, commonly known as Red Sandalwood, is used in making luxury handicraft items and luxury furniture and in making traditional Ayurvedic medicines.
( Source : dc correspondent/ agencies )
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