Kerala HC orders interim halt to palm oil import

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday ordered an interim halt to import of palm oil through the Kochi port, and posted the case for further hearing on Wednesday.

The case is now being heard by Justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan, after the judge originally hearing, Justice S Sirijagan, withdrew in the wake of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan’s remarks allegedly casting aspersions on the court’s approach after the HC had stayed the Central order banning palm oil imports through Kochi port. The judge had slammed the Chief Minister’s remarks.

VS, however, maintained on Tuesday that his words were not meant to insult anyone but he intended only to draw attention to the plight of the state’s coconut farmers, who were hit by the palm imports.