Tuesday, July 11, 2006

HIGH COURT ORDERED TO FURNISH DETAILS OF RELIEF PACKAGE INCLUDING LIST OF ALL BENEFICIARIES

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

Regd. Office : 11, Shivalaya, Trisaran Society, In front of Somalwar School, Khamla, NAGPUR – 440 025.

Ph No. 0712-2282457 / Mobile – 9371137653, 9422108846. Fax No. 07235-227387

Ref : VJAS/179/2006 11th july-2006

PRESS NOTE

URGENT / FLASH

LANDMARK ORDER ON P.I.L. IN THE MATTER OF FARMERS SUICIDE DEATHS :

HIGH COURT ORDERED TO FURNISH DETAILS OF RELIEF PACKAGE INCLUDING LIST OF ALL BENEFICIARIES AND OTHER STEPS INITIATED BY THE GOVT. TO STOP ON GOING FARMERS SUICIDES IN VIDARBHA ,TOLL OF WHICH REACHED TO 640 !

HIGH COURT DECLINED TO DELETE NAMES OF 12 TOP SECRETARIES FROM ARRAY OF RESPONDENTS.

ACCEPTED UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY OF MAHARASHTRA GOVT. CHIEF SECRETARY & 12 OTHER TOP I.A.S. BUREAUCRATS – SECRETARIES TO RECALL EARLIER ORDER OF COST OF RS. 1,000/- EACH DUE TO FAILURE TO SUBMIT REPLY - AFFIDAVIT IN THE MATTER OF FARMERS SUICIDE DEATHS:

Nagpur,

Dated: 11th July, 2006

TAKING THE SERIOUS COGNIZANCE OF CONTINUED NEGLIGENCE AND FAILURE TO PROVIDE RELIEF AID TO VIDARBHA FARMERS DESPITE THE EARLIER JUDGMENTS AND THE ORDERS PASSED BY HON’BLE HIGH COURT IN THE MATTER OF 640 FARMERS SUICIDE DEATHS IN VIDARBHA WHICH ROCKED ENTIRE STATE OF WHICH PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION IS FILED BY VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI, PRESIDENT, SHRI KISHORE TIWARI, TODAY WHILE HEARING THE CASE, DIVISION BENCH HEADED BY JUSTICE R.M.S.KHANDEPARKAR AND JUSTICE S.R. DONGAONKAR AT NAGPUR BENCH OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT CAME DOWN HEAVILY ON THE RESPONDENTS STATE & ITS BUREAUCRATS AND ORDERED TO FURNISH ALL DETAILS OF RELIEF PACKAGES AND DETAILS OF ALL BENEFICIARIES BY SUBMITTING DETAILED AFFIDAVIT AND ALSO HOSTING ALL SUCH DETAILS ON GOVT. WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.

DIVISIONAL BENCH OF HIGH COURT CATEGERELY DECLINED TO ACCEPT THE PRAYER MADE BY GOVT. TO DELETE THE NAMES OF 12 TOP I.A.S. BUREAUCRATS /SECRETARIES FROM ARRAY OF RESPONDENTS MADE BY THE PIL PETITIONER.

HOWEVER AFTER EXPRESSING IT’S ANGUSH & DISPLEASURE FOR APATHY SHOWN BY THE RESPONDENTS OFFICIALS IN FILING THE REPLY AFFIDAVIT IN TIME, HIGH COURT DIVISION BENCH ACCEPTED THE UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY SUBMITTED BY THESE 12 TOP I.A.S. OFFICIALS WITH THE PRAYER TO RECALL EARLIER ORDER OF HIGH COURT IMPOSING COST OF RS. 1,000/- EACH TO BE RECOVERED & PAID BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY & 12 OTHER TOP I.A.S. BUREAUCRATS OFFICIALS OF THE RANK OF PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, SECRETARIES, DIVISIONAL COMMISSIONERS AND DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE .WHILE PASSING THE ORDER ON RECALL APPLICATION HIGH COURT MADE IT CLEAR THAT…. “IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE GIVING CLEAN CHIT TO THE RESPONDENT OFFICIALS”.

THE DIVISION BENCH AT NAGPUR BENCH OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT TODAY WAS HEARING THE P.I.L. PERTAINING TO CONTINUED SUICIDE DEATHS OF THE FARMERS IN THE COTTON CULTIVATING WESTERN VIDARBHA REGION TOLL OF WHICH HAS NOW CROSSED 640 THIS YEAR EVEN AFTER THE VARIOUS SO CALLED PACKAGES ANNOUNCED BY STATE AND CENTRE WHICH VIRTUALLY FAILED REMOVE PREVAILING DISTRESS DUE TO AGRARIAN CRISIS IN VIDARBHA REGION. THOUGH THE WRIT PETITION WAS FILED BY THE PETITIONER FARM ACTIVIST KISHOR TIWARI WAY BACK IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 2006, THE RESPONDENTS STATE OFFICIALS HAVE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDERS OF THE HON’BLE HIGH COURT PASSED FROM TIME TO TIME DIRECTING THEM TO FILE REPLY – AFFIDAVITS IMMEDIATELY. BUT NO STEPS HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND OTHER TOP I.A.S. BUREAUCRATS OF THE STATE & THEIR CONTINUED APATHY TO DEAL WITH SUCH A SERIOUS ISSUE OF FARMERS SUICIDES AND HIGH COURT WAS CONSTRAINED TO TAKE SERIOUS COGNIZANCE OF SUCH LAPSES ON THE PART OF STATE OFFICIALS AND RESULTED IN PASSING OF THE LANDMARK ORDER IMPOSING THE COST OF RS. 1,000/- EACH TO BE RECOVERED FROM THE CHIEF SECRETARY & 12 OTHER TOP OFFICIALS OF THE STATE, PERHAPS THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF HIGH COURT THAT SUCH AN ENEMAS FINE / COST IS IMPOSED ON 13 TOP I.A.S. OFFICIALS OF THE STATE.

THIS HISTORIC ORDER TAKING DRASTIC ACTION BY HIGH COURT HAS VIRTUALLY SHAKEN THE ENTIRE STATE AND CENTRAL GOVT. AND GOVERNOR SHRI S.M KRISHNNAJI & THEN PRIME MINISTER DR.MANMOHANSINGHJI ALONG WITH ENTIRE TEAM OF PLANNING COMMISSION AIR DASHED TO NAGPUR TO SEE PLIGHT OF FARMERS AND TO ANNOUNCE PACKAGE OF RS.3750 CRORES APART FROM EARLIER PACKAGE ANNOUNCED STATE WAY BACK IN DECEMBER 2005 BUT FAILED TO STOP ON GOING SUICIDES OF VIDARBHA.

TODAY WHILE ARGUING THE MATTER ON BEHALF STATE, ADDITIONAL ADVOCATE GENERAL SHRI ASHUTOSH KUMBHKONI WHO AIRDASH FROM MUMBAI TO NAGPUR IN A FACE SAVING EXERCISE, TRIED TO HIGH LIGHT THE PACKAGES OF THE GOVT, BUT FAILED TO SATISFY THE COURT.

PETITIONER COUNSEL ADV. FIRDOS MIRZA POINTED OUT TO THE COURT, HOW GOVT. RELIEF PACKAGE IS MISLEADING IN WHICH OUT OF RS.1075 CRORE EARLIER ANNOUNCED ,RS.750 CRORE WAS IN FACT IS THE FARMER’S OWN MONEY DEDUCTED BY STATE GOVT. THROUGH COTTON MONOPOLY SCHEME OVER PERIOD OF 25 YEARS IN THE NAME OF CAPITAL MOBILISATION FUND. SIMILARLY OTHER RELIEF SCHEMES FAILED TO REACH ACTUAL FARMERS AND REMAINED ON PAPER. NO ONE BENEFITED OUT OF THESE PACKAGES OTHER THAN THE SEED COMPANIES ,CO=OPRATIVE BANKS CONTROLED BY POLITIANS AND CONTRACTORS .B.T. COTTON SEED MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES VIRTUALLY LOOTED THE FARMERS BY SELLING SEED @ RS.1700/- PER POCKET OF 450 GMS. MEANS RS.3570/- PER KG. AS AGAINST RS.400/- OF HYBRID COTTON SEED,POINTED OUT ADV.MIRZA .

AFTER HEARING THE COUNSELS OF THE PARTIES AT LENGTH,DIVISION BENCH OF HIGH COURT CAME DOWN HEAVILY AND ORDERED THE STATE TO FURNISH ALL DETAILS OF RELIEF PACKAGES AND DETAILS OF & NAMES ALL BENEFICIARIES BY SUBMITTING DETAILED AFFIDAVIT AND ALSO HOSTING ALL SUCH DETAILS ON GOVT. WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. DIVISIONAL BENCH OF HIGH COURT CATEGERELY DECLINED TO ACCEPT THE PRAYER MADE BY GOVT. TO DELETE THE NAMES OF 12 TOP I.A.S. BUREAUCRATS /SECRETARIES ,INCLUDING CHIARMAN OF NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR FARMERS DR.M.S.SWAMINATHAN FROM ARRAY OF RESPONDENTS IN THE PETITION MADE BY THE PIL PETITIONER KISHOR TIWARI & ON THE OTHER HAND HIGH COURT MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE RESPONDENTS OFFICIALS WILL HAVE TO APPEAR TO SUBMIT THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFIDAVIT AS WHEN REQUIRED.

THE TOP OFFICIALS UPON WHOM THE COST WAS IMPOSED BY THE HON’BLE HIGH COURT WERE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY-HOME AFFAIRS, PRINCIPAL SECRETARY –AGRICULTURE, PRINCIPAL SECRETARY –MARKETING, SECRETARY –CO-OPERATION, COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AT PUNE, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, DIVISIONAL COMMISSIONERS OF REVENUE DIVISIONS AT AMRAVATI & NAGPUR, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SPECIALLY FORMED SHRI VASANTRAO NAIK SHETI SWAWLAMBAN MISSION HAVING OFFICE AT AMRAVATI & NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR FARMERS, APPOINTED BY MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE HEADED BY SHRI SHARAD PAWAR AT NEW DELHI, WHO ALL ARE NAMED AS RESPONDENT PARTIES BY THE P.I.L. PETITIONER SHRI KISHORE TIWARI. ON WHOM THE COST / FINE OF RS. 1,000/- EACH HAD BEEN IMPOSED BY THE HON’BLE HIGH COURT.

THE PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION – WRIT PETITION WAS FILED BY SHRI KISHORE TIWARI WITH THE WIDE PRAYERS IN THE INTEREST OF COTTON CULTIVATING FARMERS COMMUNITY AT LARGE. THE PRAYERS ARE AS UNDER THAT -

i) THE HON’BLE HIGH COURT TO TAKE COGNIZANCE OF THE PLIGHT OF POOR FARMERS WHO WERE COMPELLED TO COMMIT SUICIDE DUE TO WRONGFUL POLICIES OF THE STATE,

ii) TO ORDER NECESSARY PROBE / ENQUIRY IN THE ROLE OF STATE OFFICERS IN PROMOTING B.T. COTTON WHICH RESULTED IN THE FAILURE OF CROP,

iii) TO DIRECT INVESTIGATION THROUGH C.B.I., VIGILANCE COMMISSION, C.I.D. OR ANY OTHER INDEPENDENT AGENCY IN THE MATTER OF SALE OF BOGUS AND DUPLICATE B.T. COTTON SEEDS BY THE COMPANIES AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE OFFICIALS OF THE STATE IN INDUCING THE POOR FARMERS FOR CULTIVATING THE B.T. COTTON,

iv) TO ORDER PROSECUTION OF THE GUILTY OFFICIALS FOR THE OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 306, 409, 420 & 120 (B) OF INDIAN PENAL CODE AND THEIR OVERACTS CAUSING SERIES OF SUICIDES OF FARMERS,

v) TO DIRECT THE STATE TO COMPENSATE THE FAMILIES OF THE FARMERS WHO HAVE COMPELLED TO COMMIT SUICIDE BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE STATE BY PROVIDING RS. 5,00,000/- EACH WITHOUT ANY DISPARITY OR CHOOSE & PICK POLICY,

vi) TO DIRECT THE STATE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE MEASURES FOR GRANTING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE COTTON GROWING FARMERS & TO TAKE FURTHER STEPS TO PROTECT THE FARMERS FROM THE COERCIVE RECOVERY AT THE HANDS OF BANKS & PRIVATE MONEY LENDERS,

vii) TO DIRECT THE STATE TO PLACE ACTION TAKEN REPORT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF SWAMINATHAN COMMITTEE,

viii) TO DIRECT THE STATE TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AGAINST THE B.T. COTTON SEEDS COMPANIES FOR COMPENSATING THE POOR FARMERS DIED UNTIMELY &

ix) OTHER RELIEFS WHICH HIGH COURT MAY FIND SUITABLE IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE PETITION WILL BE TAKEN UP FOR FURTHER HEARING AFTER 2 WEEKS AT THE NAGPUR BENCH OF BOMBAY HIGH COURT. ADVOCATE FIRDOS MIRZA ,ADV.AJAY SOMANI & ADVOCATE VINOD TIWARI APPEARED FOR THE PETITIONER AND STATE WAS REPRESENTED BY ADDAL.A.G.SHRI ASHUTOSH KUBHAKONI ASSISTED BY GOVT. PLEADER SMT. BHARATI DANGARE .

KINDLY ARRANGE TO RELEASE THIS IMPORTANT NEWS IN YOUR ESTEEMED DAILY.

THANKING YOU,

YOURS FAITHFULLY,

KISHORE TIWARI

PRESIDENT

VIDARBHA JAN ANDOLAN SAMITI

NAGPUR.

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