The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Central government on a public interest litigation seeking enforcement of omnibus measures for the welfare of farmers, including a price stabilisation fund.
The Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice KV Viswanathan passed the order on Friday on a petition filed through Advocate Mridula Ray Bharadwaj on behalf of Agnostos Theos, Managing Director of The Sikh Chamber of Commerce.
The plea contended that the Central government has not taken any effective measures to reduce hunger and end agrarian distress.
The Apex Court orally told the petitioner that he needed to do better homework and research. Calling the pleadings as evasive, the Bench asked Theos whether he had read the expert reports and whether he was supporting the farmers or sugar lobby?
The petition submitted that the Central government has not taken any effective measures to reduce hunger and end agrarian distress.
It said the prices of agricultural commodities in the international market have been widely fluctuating due to discriminatory policies followed by the larger players like the USA and the European Union … the cheap import of agriculture products from the US and EU threatens the livelihood of the farmers.
The petitioner contended that there should be a national policy for farmers and the government should negotiate better with the World Trade Organisation.