A Division Bench of the Madras High Court comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthil Kumar Ramamoorthy took suo motu cognizance of a report published in Times of India regarding the lack of Storehouses and because of which the paddy crops of the farmers could not be procured. (Suo Motu case v. Government of Tamil Nadu)
“It is necessary that some policy or measure be indicated to take care of the paddy which is harvested and sometimes left to dry in open fields, particularly in the month of June, when there is the odd chance of a heavy downpour.”
Background of the Case
The Court considered the report published in the Times of India on June 7, 2021, claiming that farmers were in distress as paddy sacks got drenched in rain. This Writ Petition was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying for issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to open the paddy procurement centres where the cultivation was on a larger scale, without the farmers making representation for procuring their products, as they feared that due to lack of proper storage facilities, the paddy bags would start sprouting if the rain were to continue and also respondent to submit a report before this Court.
Reasoning and Decision of the Court
The Court expressed its concern about the situation of the farmers as the season was rainy and farmers were cutting their crops. There were no proper storehouses available for the farmers where they could store their crops. The Crops would be spoiled if left in the field and if rain were to continue pouring.
The Court ordered that some policy or measure be indicated to take care of the paddy which was harvested and sometimes left to dry in open fields, particularly in the month of June, when there was the odd chance of a heavy downpour.
The Court posted the matter for the next hearing and hoped that appropriate measures would be taken and put in place even before the matter appeared next, particularly since there was a threat of further rain in the next few days.
Case Details
Case: - W.P.No.12577 of 2021
Petitioner: - Suo-Motu Writ Petition
Respondent: - The Government of Tamil Nadu & Ors.
Counsel for Respondent: - Mr. R. Shunmugasundaram
Judge: Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthil Kumar Ramamoorthy
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