March 6, 2025: The Supreme Court has scheduled a crucial hearing on April 15 and 16 to address petitions challenging the approval granted for the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) mustard. The case, which resulted in a split verdict in July 2024, will now be reviewed by a three-judge bench.

A bench led by Justice Abhay S Oka, along with Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasized that the hearing will be conducted continuously to ensure a timely conclusion. "Files are too many in this case. Once we sit, we will continue and finish off the hearing. We don’t want any discontinuation in the hearing of the case,” said Justice Oka.

The petitions, filed by NGO Gene Campaign, Research Foundation for Science Technology, and activist Aruna Rodrigues, argue that the July 2024 split verdict—though divided on approving GM mustard’s open-air release—had common points of agreement that were not reflected in the final order.

To streamline the proceedings, the Supreme Court has directed lawyers from both sides to prepare a consolidated compilation of relevant documents and judgments. Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre along with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, informed the court that high-level discussions on the matter are still ongoing.

The previous split verdict by Justices BV Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol had acknowledged the need for a national policy on GM crops, requiring stakeholder consultation within four months. However, the two judges had differing views on the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee’s (GEAC) approval of GM mustard trials. Justice Nagarathna struck down the October 2022 approvals due to procedural lapses and concerns over environmental and health risks, while Justice Karol upheld the decision but insisted on strict monitoring to prevent contamination.

Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for one of the petitioners, suggested that the court first hear arguments from the petitioners before allowing the Centre to respond. The bench, however, noted that even if the hearings begin soon, they will extend beyond March.

The petitioners are urging the court to strengthen regulatory measures for evaluating the risks posed by genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and establish a more robust assessment framework. The upcoming hearing is expected to play a critical role in determining the future of GM mustard in India.