The Gauhati High Court has recently issued notice on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed seeking a direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register an FIR and investigate the illegal border trade and smuggling of arecanuts into Mizoram and other adjoining States of India.
The PIL filed by one Vanramchhuangi further seeks to verify the authenticity of E-Way Bills, Permits and phytosanitary certificate allegedly issued by Mizoram Agricultural Marketing Corporation (MAMCo) and any other authorities and to take appropriate legal action against the erring officials involved in the smuggling of arecanuts as it has been causing huge loss to the State as well as to the national exchequers.
The petitioner’s grievance is that dry arecanuts are being smuggled from Thailand, Indonesia and Myanmar into India through Mizoram based on false and fabricated documents and thereby has been creating an unhealthy competition with the poor local arecanut growers and also causing huge loss of the Exchequer of India and State as well.
Thus, continuation of the aforesaid illegal trade by means of false and fabricated documents is hampering the overall interest of the local arecanut growers of the State , alleged the Petitioner.
While considering the PIL, the Aizawl Division Bench of Justice Ajit Borthakur and Justice Marli Vankung issued notice to the respondents.