BJP leader, Dr. Kirit Somaiya filed a Petition with the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission requesting to ask the State Government to stop distribution of inferior quality, unhygienic red imported wheat.  Dr. Somaiya is  joined by 2 more Petitioners – Shri Madhukar Khutade and Shri Harischandra Bhoye of Scheduled Tribe of Thane District.  The 82-page Petition is supported by 11 annexures/documents. 

The Petitioners have made Govt. of Maharashtra, Chief Secretary, Secretaries of Civil Supplies Ministry and Ministry of Women & Child welfare, Collectors and Rationing Officers of Mumbai, Thane, Dule, Parbhani, Nandurbar and other districts as Respondents to the Petition. 

The Petitioners stated that Maharashtra Govt. issued instructions in April 2007 not to distribute red imported wheat.  The Petitioners annexed the laboratory report of State Health Laboratory of Konkan Bhavan that the imported wheat distributed through Public Distribution System, ration shops are not as per PFA norms.  The Petitioners also attached the report of State Govt.’s Pune laboratory stating that the imported wheat, which is distributed through ration shops, is “not fit human consumption”.   

In the month of April 2007, Mumbai Rationing Controller submitted a laboratory report to Govt. of Maharashtra stating that 229 out of 265 samples were found unfit for human consumption.  The Govt. issued order not to distribute such wheat. 

Petitioners have submitted documentary evidence to the Human Rights Commission that, contrary to such instruction and order, sale and distribution of imported wheat is continued in Mumbai, Thane and other parts of Maharashtra.  Rationing Controller of Mumbai informed Dr. Somaiya that, during April and May 2007, the distribution of imported wheat was stopped.  But it is restarted from June 2007.  9363 tons of imported wheat being sold/distributed through ration shops for various schemes including Below Poverty Line, Antyodaya and Annuapurna.              

The Petitioners have drawn the attention of the Commission that consumption of inferior quality of wheat is leading to health problem among the downtrodden and Scheduled Tribe.  Petitioners in their Prayer have requested : 

1.       Govt. be directed to stop distribution of inferior quality of red imported wheat.                                                                  

2.       Govt. be directed to submit all the laboratory reports obtained from Kokan Bhavan Public Health Laboratory. 

3.       Govt. be directed to submit all the internal correspondence including request and instructions in connection with the above. 

4.       Govt. be directed to give information how much wheat distributed under various Schemes all over Maharashtra? 

5.       Govt. be asked to obtain Laboratory Reports from the samples obtained at the Point of Purchase.                                                                  

6.       Govt. be asked to obtain Reports from Laboratory about the quality status and usable life of the wheat.  Reports be obtained that in how many days the red imported wheat required to be used.

7.       Petitioners seek direction from the Hon’ble Chairman against all the officers of the State Government and other organizations who are responsible for not only causing human sickness due to distribution of such wheat but also financial loss to the State and Central Governments on account of import of such wheat.