COTTAGE INDUSTRIES, (UNIT OF SRI AUROBINDO UDYOG TRUST) SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGER Vs. THE UNION OF INDIA (UOI), REPRESENTED BY ITS JOINT SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF CIVIL SUPPLIES, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SUPPLIES)

JUDGEMENT

(1.) W .P. No. 16123 of 1997 has been filed by M/s. Cottage Industries a Unit of Sri Aurobindo Udyog Trust praying for the issue of writ of declaration declaring as illegal and unenforceable the notification dated 7.3.1997 made in G.S.R. 140 (E) by the Ministry of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution in so far as it seeks to limit Sub -clause (c) of Rule 34, in respect of the item 'Incense sticks' under Standard Weight of (PC) Rules, 1977 insofar as the petitioner is concerned.

(2.) W .P. No. 16124 of 1997 has been filed by M/s Udavi Auroshika Agarbathis seeking for identical relief.

(3.) THE petitioners in both the Writ petitions claim that they are manufacturers of Agarbathi and the manufacturing of Agarbathis is a cottage industry. It is the claim of the petitioner that the workmen are mostly women and residents of local village. The demand for Agarbathis, according to the petitioner is seasonal. The agarbathis are being marketed locally and it is also exported. The Agarbathis are being manufactured in largescale in the State of Karnataka and to certain extent in Tamil Nadu. The marketing of Agarbathis is highly competitives.