New Delhi, Oct 6, 2020-
The Centre on Tuesday submitted before the Supreme Court that it should not tinker with the MSP, as it may not be in interest of the farmers during the hearing on a batch of pleas to stop stubble burning in the neighbouring states of the national capital.
A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian agreed to examine a suggestion that instead of releasing full MSP to farmers, it should be released in portions, after verification that they did not burn the stubble.
The suggestion was proposed by senior advocate Shyam Divan whose client has filed an application in the matter. However, the Chief Justice queried, “Who is going to supervise and verify if a farmer has indulged in stubble burning?”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, submitted “Tinkering with the MSP may not be in the interest of farmers.”
Mehta contended that the Centre would file a reply in the matter. The apex court also sought the presence of chief secretaries to draw out a framework to address the menace of stubble burning, which contributes to 40 per cent pollution in Delhi. “Let the Chief Secretaries of the States viz., Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, be present before this Court on the next date of hearing,” said the top court.
Advocate Charanpal Singh Bagri, representing farmers’ association, objected to the suggestion of withholding MSP for stubble burning and cited the November 2019 order, where the top court had ordered compensation for small and marginal farmers, who did not burn the farm residue.
In a bid to control stubble burning, Divan suggested to the court that measures adopted to control forest fires can be useful in controlling stubble burning incidents. He added that satellite imagery is used to capture forest fires and subsequently messages are sent to forest officials to take remedial measures. “Why can’t such measures be adopted in connection with stubble burning?” argued Divan, insisting that his suggestions are based on an expert committee recommendations.
A PIL has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Punjab and Haryana governments to ban stubble burning, which usually takes place between September and December every year, in the backdrop of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Despite a ban on stubble burning, farmers in Punjab and Haryana continue with this practice.
Many have cited the absence of financial incentives to adopt environment-friendly farm waste management practices.
Many intervening applications have been filed in the matter. The apex court is likely to hear the matter next week. (Agency)
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