New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted a week's time to the Centre to apprise it about the time by which it will take a policy decision on Genetically Modified (GM) crop roll out. A bench, headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar, considered the statement of Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre that the government was considering various aspects of the matter and has invited suggestions and objections on the commercial roll out of GM crops. Informing the apex court regarding the roll out, the Centre said that so far it has not taken any policy decision on the commercial roll out of GM Mustard crops.

In October last year, the apex court had extended the stay on the commercial release of GM mustard crops until further orders. The court had also asked the Centre to seek public opinion on such seeds before releasing it for cultivation purpose, even as government approval is awaited. Mustard is one of India’s most important winter crops which is sown between mid-October and late November.