“Farmer Who Feeds Entire Nation Cannot Be Left To Fend For Himself”: Patna HC Directs Steps For Crop Loss Compensation To Farmers

The Patna High Court has observed that farmers who suffer crop loss due to natural disasters cannot be denied compensation on procedural grounds, emphasising that “the farmer who feeds the entire nation cannot be left to fend for himself when natural disaster strikes his field.” A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo and Justice Harish Kumar was hearing a writ petition concerning compensation for farmers who allegedly suffered crop damage in Bihar.Pursuant to earlier directions, the Director, Agriculture Department, Bihar, appeared virtually before the Court along with the District Magistrate, Muzaffarpur, the District Agriculture Officer, Muzaffarpur, and the Block Development Officer, Sahebganj.The Court was informed that the District Magistrate, Muzaffarpur had earlier submitted a report regarding the extent of crop damage and assessed provisional compensation amount. However, action had allegedly not been taken by the Agriculture Department on the ground that the Rabi season had already commenced. The Director, Agriculture Department submitted a report explaining the mechanism for disbursement of compensation. The report stated that the DBT-based application portal under the scheme remained operational till 02.12.2025 and compensation had already been disbursed to eligible farmers who applied within the stipulated period. The Court recorded that altogether 1,11,861 farmers had received compensation amounting to Rs. 33,25,04,753/- for crop losses sustained by them. On being queried regarding awareness measures, the Director informed the Court that awareness programmes had been conducted at village level through village-level workers and Kisan Salahkars, and that public notices had also been published in local newspapers on 15.11.2025.The Court further noted that a three-member Committee had now been constituted by the Agriculture Department to undertake field verification in affected Panchayats and identify residual or unattended claims. The Committee has been directed to verify claims through field inspection and records, assess crop loss, and submit a consolidated report within 15 days. The Bench observed that if left-out farmers are found eligible upon verification, necessary steps must be taken expeditiously for disbursement of compensation. The Court further directed the authorities to undertake proper awareness measures so that all remaining affected farmers can appear before the Committee for verification. Invoking Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, the Court observed:“It must be stated that, the farmer who feeds the entire nation cannot be left to fend for himself when natural disaster strikes his field.”The Court added that denial of relief despite assessed crop loss infringes the right to livelihood of affected farmers and emphasised that no genuine and eligible claimant should be excluded because of procedural impediments. The matter will next be listed on 24.06.2026, when the Director, Agriculture Department, Bihar has been directed to file a further affidavit indicating the number of unattended cases identified, the extent of crop loss, and compensation disbursed to eligible left-out farmers.Case Title: Sanjay Kumar and Ors v. State of Bihar and Ors.Case No.: Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No. 3121 of 2026.Appearance: Mr. Abhay Kumar Mishra, Mr. Sonu Singh, and Mr. Sarfraz Ahmad for the Petitioners. Mr. Vikash Kumar for the Respondents.Click Here To Read/Download Order

“Farmer Who Feeds Entire Nation Cannot Be Left To Fend For Himself”: Patna HC Directs Steps For Crop Loss Compensation To Farmers

Rushil Batra

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“Farmer Who Feeds Entire Nation Cannot Be Left To Fend For Himself”: Patna HC Directs Steps For Crop Loss Compensation To Farmers

Rushil Batra

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