Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir government has canceled the Jammu and Kashmir Mutton law whereby it controlled mutton and chicken prices.
The decision comes after the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution informed the J&K government that the previous directive was no longer valid and applicable.
Consequently, the Directorates of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs in Jammu and Srinagar have been instructed to refrain from issuing or enforcing any pricing-related orders.
The issue of controlling mutton and chicken prices in J&K has long been a contentious matter between the government and mutton traders. The recent notification’s issuance raises questions about who will now be responsible for regulating the pricing of these commodities.
The cost of mutton has risen by over 50 percent since 2019. Despite a government-approved price of Rs 535 per kg, it was previously sold for Rs 400 per kg four years ago and is currently being sold for Rs 650. The absence of price controls imposed by the government has worried consumers, as they fear that prices may skyrocket in the absence of regulations.
J&K, which imports around 350 lakh kg of mutton primarily from Delhi and Rajasthan, consumes over 600 lakh kg of mutton annually. Prior to the notification, mutton prices in Kashmir were comparatively lower, with Rs 535 per kg, while Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Gujarat had prices ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 750 per kg.
