HYDERABAD, Feb 13: A bench of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad, on Friday expressed shock over the fact that weighing equipment of sugar mills of Sindh had not been verified and checked by officials concerned since 2000.

During the hearing of a petition of a sugarcane grower, the bench, comprising Justice Mohammad Musa K. Leghari and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, observed that the matter needed a thorough investigation and the officials concerned required to be taken to task.

Grower Mohammad Saleem Bozdar had written a letter to the court which had been converted into the petition. He had said Mehran Sugar Mills authorities had not issued him any indent for supply of sugarcane during the current crushing season despite repeated requests.

The grower accused the mill authorities of favouritizm and corruption as they were issuing indents to middlemen, who were purchasing sugarcane from small landowners on cheaper rates and giving illegal gratification to directors of the mill.

He regretted that the weighing bridge of the mill was also manipulated, causing loss of weight and the mill was also violating the Sindh Sugar Factories Control Act and other relevant laws.

He said he made efforts to lodge his complaint with the cane commissioner but, he alleged, he was not discharging his duties as his officers were in league with the mill management.

He sought action against said the mill and registration of an FIR by the Anti-Corruption Establishment against the cane commissioner and local police officials.

The bench took serious notice of comments submitted by the director general, agriculture extension, ex-officio controller, weights and measurement, Sindh. It observed that the director general appeared to be unconcerned and lethargic as he had no idea and could not give a satisfactory reply with regard to stamping and verification of the weighing equipment of mills of Sindh.

The director general, agriculture extension, undertook before the court to furnish detailed comments and place on record all facts with regard to non-verification of the weighing equipment of the mills and take appropriate action in the matter by Feb 19.

The court also expressed its dissatisfaction over the director general comments, saying these were vague and evasive. The director general said the inspector, weights and measurement, Noorullah Soomro, was responsible for verification of weights and measurement of the Mehran Sugar Mill.