HC asks Punjab under which provisions it is booking farmers for stubble burning

A petition by Bharti Kissan Union is seeking adequate compensation to the farmers as they have been restrained from burning paddy straw, stubble and residue.

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday sought explanation from Punjab about the provisions under which farmers in the state are being booked for burning stubble in their fields.

The union in its petition argued that the state’s policy is ‘oppressing’ farmers and ‘discouraging’ them from paddy cultivation. (HT File)

The high court bench of justice Rajan Gupta was hearing a petition filed by Bharti Kissan Union, a Ludhiana-based farmers’ body. The government failed to file a response to the petition that was filed on October 13 and sought more time to do so. On the other hand, the petitioner’s lawyer told the court that nearly 100 farmers have been booked in the state for burning stubble during this harvest season, so far.

The court was told that the booked farmers were fined between ₹2,500 to ₹15,000, and criminal action was also initiated against them. Apart from this, a red entry has also been made in the revenue record against them, making it difficult for them to avail benefits of welfare schemes.

The petitioner argued that the state’s policy is ‘oppressing’ farmers and ‘discouraging’ them from paddy cultivation. If the paddy straw is not burnt, it remains in the field and decays. The petitioner said that in the past, the court has directed the state to take proactive measures to provide affordable and readily available solutions to the farmers. However, nothing has been achieved in this regard.

The court, while posting the matter for the next hearing on November 20, asked Punjab’s chief secretary to depute a senior official to assist the court and also asked the government to file its response. The court also observed that the condition of farmers is pitiable and that instead of helping them, the government is acting against them.