Supreme Court Seeks Details Of Central & State Government Initiatives To Address Farmers' Distress Nationwide

The Supreme Court has directed the Additional Solicitor General to file a comprehensive report detailing the initiatives undertaken by the Union Government, State Governments, and other stakeholders to address the multiple factors that contribute to the persistent distress faced by farmers across the country.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya was hearing a writ petition filed in 2014 by an NGO named 'Citizens Resource and Action and Initiative' raising the issue related to farmers' suicides. Though the petition was filed seeking relief for the families of farmers who died by suicide in Gujarat, in 2017, the Supreme Court had expanded the scope of the matter, and sought for a national action plan, and impleaded all State Governments as respondents in the petition.

When the matter was taken yesterday, CJI Surya Kant asked ASG Aishwarya Bhati to submit the details of initiatives taken for the welfare of farmers.

"Learned ASG seeks and is granted four weeks' time to place on record the comprehensive details of the initiatives taken by the Union Government or the State Governments, or other stakeholders, to address the various causes that invariably lead to a distressing situation for the farmers on a pan-India basis," the bench recorded in the order.

The bench also allowed the petitioner to place on record their suggestions and the information which they have gathered from different parts of the country.

 Case : CITIZENS RESOURCE AND ACTION INITIATIVE (CRANTI) v. THE STATE OF GUJARAT . & ORS. SLP(c) 29910/2014