Fixation of commodity prices: Supreme Court decisions receive mixed reactions

The legal fraternity on gave Saturday mixed reactions to the Supreme Court decisions on fixation of commodity prices in the country. The Supreme Court (SC) in a verdict had slashed sugar prices. Through another verdict, the apex court formed a Commission on petroleum prices.
President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) told Business Recorder that the apex court had no constitutional jurisdiction to control commodity prices, saying "it is the sole prerogative of the Executive to devise strategies aimed at reining in inflation. Senior SC lawyer Hashmat Habib said: "Under the constitutional provisions, the apex court is competent to intervene where the issue in relation to protection of citizens' rights has arisen".
The SC has powers to issue directions to government in order to protect economic needs of general public, according to him. According to Secretary SCBA Aslam Zar, it is not the job of SC to take up the matter of commodity price fixation in its jurisdiction through suo motu notice. He argued that the prices of sugar in fact soared following SC's intervention.