COFFEE BOARD vs M/S RAMESH EXPORTS P.LTD.

The Supreme Court ruled that the Coffee Board, as a statutory body under the Coffee Act, 1942, is responsible for regulating coffee exports in India, including the issuance of Certificates of Origin as mandated by the International Coffee Organization (ICO). The Court held that the absence of a valid ICO certificate for the coffee exported by M/s. Ramesh Exports Pvt. Ltd. rendered the export invalid, thereby upholding the High Court's decision to partly decree the original suit. The Court emphasized the necessity of compliance with ICO regulations for valid coffee exports, reinforcing the legal principle that statutory compliance is essential in regulated markets.