It has been three years since the government decided to decontrol or fix mutton prices. Since then, the mutton consuming people across the Valley have been pushed to the wall as there has been no adherence to the rates and no one to look into the uncontrolled rates as well.
The mutton rates are witnessing a sudden rise during the month of Ramadan and ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. In March 2025, All Kashmir Butchers Union announced a surge of Rs 50/kg. The mutton rate was increased in 2025 from Rs 650/kg to Rs 700kg. Similarly, ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr 2026, All Kashmir Butchers Union has once again announced revised rates. The mutton has been fixed at Rs 740/kg.
Besides, there is no adherence to the rates as the consumers accuse the butchers of selling upto Rs 800/kg.
This frequent upswing of mutton rates has become a norm now after the government in 2023 decided to decontrol or fix mutton prices. The Union Territory administration instructed the Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department in 2023 to withdraw from regulating mutton and other livestock product prices, effectively handing pricing power to the Mutton Dealers Union. The reversal was done after the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs clarified that the decades-old order S.O 145(E) from February 15, 1990—which had granted regulatory authority to the J&K government—is “no longer valid and applicable.”
The issue is emerging due to the non-seriousness of the government. One fails to understand why the government is reluctant to take over the control of mutton once again as was being done in the past.
The government needs to reverse its decision and must take over the control once again to ensure there is proper adherence to the rates fixed by the concerned authorities.
The government needs to take note of such arbitrary rise in the mutton rates. The fresh rates must not be implemented on the ground and those found involved should face the law.
