A bench headed by Justice S B Sinha sought reply from the Gujarat Foundation for Development Alternatives and Gandhi Irwin Salt Manufacturers Association, the petitioners who had challenged before the Gujarat High Court the notification — GSR 670 E of November 17, 2005 — restricting selling of common salt, unless it was iodised, for human consumption.

The notification issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had come into effect on May 2006. There are similar other petitions also pending before the apex court.

Stating that the petitions involved substantial questions of law of public importance, the Centre said it took the necessary action to impose restriction on production, sale and use of non-iodised salt gradually under its National Goiter Control Programme in Endemic Goiter areas of 15 states and three Union Territories.

Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran said the transfer of petitions was necessary to avoid conflicting decisions, as various petitions on the issue were pending before different high courts of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.