Samosa justice
THE days of the cheap samosa are over. While the savoury little delight is consumed with great relish by Pakistanis around the year, sales of the samosa skyrocket during Ramazan as it is a staple of the iftar spread. However, the Supreme Court has set aside a notification of the Punjab government regulating the price of samosas. As reported in the media, in 2009 the Lahore local government had fixed the price of the crispy delight at Rs6 a samosa. The local government’s machinery took action against some shopkeepers found to be selling more expensive samosas. However, not satisfied with the price set for their product, the bakers and sweet-makers of the Punjab went to court. When the Lahore High Court turned down their petition, the bakers appealed to the Supreme Court. They felt the samosa did not fall within the purview of the Punjab Foodstuffs (Control) Act, 1958, hence the government could not fix its prices, a notion the apex court seemed to agree with.
While the commercial bakers will rejoice at the verdict, others waiting for justice in Pakistan’s ever-clogged judicial system may be wondering when their turn will come. With a question of interpretation of a law at stake, the Supreme Court was the ultimate forum for resolving the matter, however trifling it may appear to the average citizen. The question, then, is whether the superior judiciary should devise some rules and a system to fast-track more urgent and serious matters for justice rather than spend valuable time on a regulation that is virtually unenforceable in any case — the proof of that being a visit to any market in Lahore where samosas are openly being sold for much higher than Rs6. Samosa-makers may be happy and another case struck from the superior judiciary’s docket, but was it the court’s best use of time at this stage?
This editorial just depicts what a shame it is for the government that such a futile case has to be petitioned to the apex court.
Thiefs & chiefs are becomming cheap. While congratulations to samosas being more precious than them.
These errors of comedy will keep on happening till CJ reties in 2013.
Are bhai, Let us import from China – a million SAMOSAs per carton for exactly 99 paise per item. Cheaper than making at home….Oh…okay… I got an idea. Why not 4-5 families come together and start making it at home.. We might send some to Judiciary, Zardari and Kaptan Khan, Nawab jee for their good deeds……:)
I would like to know if CJ tried any of the Somasa? If they did try, and it was during fasting hours, I want NAB to investigate this issue.
The height of insanity has been reached – when the SC is involved in fixing the price of Samosas. Judicial activism at its silliest – so much for local administration. So much for market driven economy. What if the samosa maker puts badam or cashew in his samosas? Should that also be Rs. 6? Why cannot the SC be involved in "constitutional cases" and leave such matters to the market or to the executive?
DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA.
When will the REAL ISSUES be Resolved? WHEN?
When will the GENERALS get serious and SAVE PAKISTAN from DESTRUCTION?
From their GRAVES?
To regulate the price of samosa, a sort of snack, sounds ridiculous. This items should fall in the open category and the sellers can fix their own price.
Samosa at Rs.6? This is very hard for the government as well as the bakers to sell Samosa At Rs.6 because in Pakistan the prices of every commodity is exorbitant. I think price of per Samosa should be Rs. 8 to 10.
It is such a pleasure to read about Samosas !
Alright
If someone approaches or files a writ,do you want that the court to dismiss it on the ground that it is waste of time.Have you ever told the people to resolve their matters among themselves by dialogue and negotiations instead of burdenning the courts.I wish your editorial would have rather been directed towards the Punjab Govt.and samosa makers/bakers .Hamid Abbasi
Get to see the lighter side of life. Some very interesting and funny comments from the readers with lessons on GEOMETRY (phew) – the ubiquitous SAMOSA IS ON THE PERCH! VOILA!!!
The center of power is only one institution and that is supreme court it seems nothing works in Pakistan but the Hon. Supreme court.
Verily samosas in UK are selling at £1 per samosa equal to 140 Pakistani Rupees. Export samosas from Pakistan to UK and earn a lot of foreign exchange as well!
try controlling the tongue of mullahs and zaid hamid
Nothing about Zaid hamid, he is India's presidential candidate for pakistan!!! Please do not do comtempt of the court by taking his name in a disgracing manner
Very funny that samosas have prompted an Editorial and highest Judiciary involved. It is we, the public, who encourage increase of prices – any item. Only yesterday came across news that price of Tandoori bread increased in Quetta. 'Increase the price – reduce size and quality of stuff ' – is the slogan of traders in this orphan country ! Can we control our 'demand'? Prices will automatically be controlled. Try it.
This case was a tough cookie or Samosa for Land of Pure Judiciary. A Samosa can be classified according to the relative lengths of its sides: In an equilateral Samosa all sides have the same length. An equilateral Samosa is also a regular polygon with all angles measuring 60°.
In an isosceles Samosa, two sides are equal in length An isosceles Samosa also has two angles of the same measure; namely, the angles opposite to the two sides of the same length.. Some Judges define an isosceles Samosa to have exactly two equal sides, whereas others define an isosceles Samosa as one with at least two equal sides.
In a scalene Samosa, all sides are unequal, equivalently all angles are unequal and it is a trues representation of the three branches of government ( Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.) Her Shaaq Pay Uloo Batha Hay, Unjam e Gulistan Kya Ho Ga.
The size of the Ulloos is different – similarily the angle of eye-sight is – Anjam jo bhi ho – wo to nazar hi aa raha hai.
When is the Chief Justice retiring, btw?
1.5 years
We are following US: once judge is always a judge
si what about the price of chitin?? should it be included in price or charged separately ?
chief justice please give opinion
Samosa makers who got heard by the judiciary are luckier than Pakistani Shia Muslims who are facing genocide but go unnoticed by the hyperactive suo moto judiciary.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Sorry for laughing. I mean I couldn’t take of controlling the price of a Samosa.
Price control of Samosa. Common keep it market driven rather than controlling. It gives a good hand to both manufacturers and buyers. If price is high peoples will not buy. If it is low, they will buy.
Price controls should be done in manufacturing goods(machine made) rather than hand made goods. hand made goods ask for real sweat than machine made goods.
why i should not migrate to pakistan. samosa at chennai is from Rs 10 to 20 depending upon its size and the popularity of the restaurant. No where it is Rs 6 . But courts seems to be assuming widest wild power .Tomorrow they will fix the price of jelabis . demand and supply should decide the price. higher courts should fix higher problems such as corruption, killings, rapes, theft, fraud etc.
You should be more worried about the prices of idlis and vadas! Somasa price is the least contributor to the inflation in Chennai.
Given Indian Rupee is around 2 PKRs – Pakistanis should think about exporting Samosa's to Chennai. Mian of Punjab should get out of his tent and explore this option – this could be better than Sasti Roti or non-stop propaganda against Kaptan Khan and Zardari. He would also get some votes from Samosa producers.
I totally disagree, the price of Somasas affect millions of people and thousands of Somasa manufacturers. I am happy that the SC is focusing on such problems rather than concentrating on letters and sending PMs and ministers home. Way to go SC!
No this is not the case; our SC is doing overtime — morning hours for NRO and packing of another PM, afternoon for an American' letter to an American general, evening time is for samosas. If any time left then late evening is for doodh jalibis, next day again start with NRO — life goes on.