ISLAMABAD: The tiff between the capital administration and the Naanbai association over the reduction in the price of Roti has landed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), with the court asking the deputy commissioner to appear before the bench on Thursday.

IHC Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri directed the deputy commissioner to appear in person on Thursday (today).

He was hearing the petition challenging the legality of government notification whereby the maximum price of Roti and Naan had been slashed by over 36pc. After hearing the preliminary arguments, the court admitted the petition for the hearing and asked the ICT administrator to appear before it within 24 hours.

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As per the details, the Punjab government in April issued a notification slashing the price of Roti, followed by a similar notification by the ICT administration.

The Islamabad administration notification had set the price of Roti and Naan at Rs16 and Rs20, respectively. Just four months ago, the price was fixed at Rs25 (Roti) and Rs30 (Naan) respectively, as per the petitioner. This decision was challenged by the Capital Naanbai Association, a union comprising over 3,000 tandoors in Islamabad. The petitioners were represented by the Barrister Umer Ijaz Gilani.

During the proceeding, Justice Jahangiri asked why the petitioner assailed the notification even though it seemed to be for the benefit of the general public. Responding to the query, Barrister Gilani submitted that no subsidy mechanism had been implemented in the matter in line with flour prices. In the current scenario, more than 3,000 tandoors in the capital territory are facing financial loss due to a cut in reasonable profit, the lawyer added.

The counsel further contended that without legal authority, the district magistrate issued the notification on April 15, 2024, while exercising powers under Section 3 of the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Act, 1977. He pointed out that Section 3 of the act only authorised the federal government to issue such a notification. Barrister Gilani urged the court to set aside the notification because an “incompetent authority” had issued this order.

After a brief hearing, the bench issued an order, issuing notice to the DC. “Points raised need consideration. Notice to the respondents. [The] deputy commissioner…is directed to depute a senior law-knowing officer, well conversant with facts of the case to appear, in person, along with record in order to assist the court on the next date of hearing.”

The additional attorney general and the Islamabad advocate general were also directed to depute “law-knowing officers” to appear, in person, to assist the court.

Later, the matter was adjourned for Thursday (today).

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2024