Notice to Union Seeking Response on National Policy for Farmers
Image Source: Business Standard
The top court on May 3 issued notice to the Union based on a Public Interest Litigation that seeks the implementation of the National Policy for Farmers, 2007, recommendations of the National Commission of Farmers, 2004, establishing a price stabilisation fund, levying agricultural cess for poor farmers, and many others.
The PIL has been filed by the Managing Director of The Sikh Chamber of Commerce, Agnostos Theos, against the Union and the Ministry of Commerce.
Supreme Court’s two-judge bench comprising Justice Kant and Justice Viswanathan, while hearing the PIL, remarked that “we are issuing the notice but your homework is completely missing. You have hardly done any research or anything. We expect… some facts and figures, information, some data collection”.
Justice Viswanathan during the hearing raised questions about the Stabilisation fund. He questioned if farmers are getting the minimum support price (MSP), then what was the need for the fund.
“You want a stabilisation fund? How does it work? Have you seen the report? Who will contribute? You are getting your MSP; why are you wanting the fund? This is what sugar factories are asking?”
Ultimately, the bench issued notice on the grounds of the filed PIL.
The PIL claims that the funds would be used to support farmers in the event of wide fluctuations in prices of agricultural commodities.
Owing to the failure of the Union in taking effective measures to end agrarian distress, it becomes incumbent upon the petitioner to file the present petition and seek directions.
“The Respondents are not taking any effective measures for making hunger a history by putting farmers first and ending agrarian distress by a new green revolution making our country self-sufficient in grains, millets, vegetables, fruits by the implementation of the National Policy for farmers, 2007,” reports Live Law.
The petitioner stressed that employment generation in the agricultural economy has been reduced to almost 0%.
The petition highlighted that the Indian Government negotiated under the World Trade Organisation, ignoring its impact on farmers, making it the reason for the Price Stabilisation Fund in India.
It may be noted that the Supreme Court earlier refused to entertain the petition filed by the same petitioner which sought directions from the Centre-State governments to consider demands of the protesting farmers who were protesting for the enactment of a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP).
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