Advocate Nadeem Qadri Sends Formal Representation to Raj Bhawan Demanding CBI Inquiry into National Mission on Saffron
Pampore, June 14: In a significant development aimed at seeking justice for the saffron-growing community of Jammu & Kashmir, Advocate Nadeem Qadri, noted environmental lawyer and Convenor of Civil Society Pampore, has formally submitted a detailed legal representation to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir demanding an immediate and time-bound CBI inquiry into the National Mission on Saffron (NMS).
The representation, submitted via official communication to Raj Bhawan, outlines serious allegations of mismanagement, corruption, and institutional failure in the implementation of the NMS. Despite a sanctioned outlay of Rs 400 crore, the mission has failed to deliver tangible benefits to saffron growers, with key infrastructure projects — including hundreds of borewells and irrigation systems — lying defunct or non-operational.
Advocate Qadri has also raised alarm over the illegal export of saffron corms from Pampore — the GI-recognized and legally protected place of origin of Kashmiri saffron — to other parts of India in clear violation of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. He has called this a direct threat to the cultural, ecological, and economic identity of Kashmir.
The letter further highlights:
• Discrepancies in fund utilization and lack of public audits
• Violation of land use laws due to illegal conversion of saffron land
• Institutional apathy from the Department of Agriculture and SKUAST-K
• Breach of constitutional rights of growers under Article 14 and Article 21
In his statement, Advocate Qadri said:
“The failure of the National Mission on Saffron is not just a policy lapse — it is a betrayal of the trust of thousands of saffron growers. The time has come for a credible, independent investigation by the CBI to hold the guilty accountable and restore faith in public institutions. The future of Kashmiri saffron cannot be sacrificed to corruption and negligence.”
He has also appealed to the LG to constitute an oversight committee comprising legal experts, agricultural scientists, and representatives from saffron grower associations to monitor the future direction of the mission, the statement added. (KINS)
