Pay crop loss compensation to Adilabad farmers in 3 mnths: HC to Centre, state

Hyderabad: A Telangana High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice C.V Bhaskar Reddy on 18 August directed Central and state governments and insurance companies to pay the entire compensation to Adilabad farmers within three months.

The Bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Payal Shankar, a politician and social activist from Shantinagar in Adilabad district. According to the PIL, the Central and state governments and insurance companies had failed to pay compensation to the farmers of Adilabad district despite the latter paying premiums for the period of 2018-19 for the Kharif and Rabi seasons.

The petitioner alleged that in spite of GO 500 (dated 23 November 2019), the Telangana agriculture and cooperation department ignored the risk period as mentioned in both Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana and restructured weather-based crop insurance scheme.

In spite of giving representations, the authorities concerned are not responding which is immoral and illegal, the petitioner alleged and requested the court to direct the Central and state governments to immediately release their respective shares pertaining to Kharif and Rabi 2018-19 for the purpose of payment of crop insurance/compensation to farmers enrolled in Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana and restructured weather-based crop insurance scheme.

The petitioner further sought the court to direct the respondents to take immediate action to pay 12% interest for the delay in the settlement of claims as per the revised operational guidelines of Pradhan Manthri Fasal Bima Yojana.

Meanwhile, the respondents' counsels submitted that in compliance with the earlier order of the High Court, they have paid all the amount to the Adilabad district farmers who were affected in the Kharif and Rabi crop season of 2018-19. Further, the counsels informed that a few farmers had furnished the wrong bank account numbers which led to some delays in payment.

After hearing the contentions of the counsels, the Bench directed all respondents to pay the entire compensation to the farmers within three months and disposed of the plea.