Ex gratia would not prevent farmers suicides, says Hyderabad High Court

Hyderabad: Making it clear that paying ex gratia would not prevent farmers suicides, the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday told the Telangana and AP governments to find the root cause for the farmers’ distress and file reports explaining the steps being taken to prevent suicides.

A division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with a PIL by the Vyavasaya Jana Chaitanya Samiti seeking to direct the Telangana and AP governments to take visionary steps to prevent farmers suicides and to invite applications from farmers who were in deep financial trouble and to take remedial measures.

The Bench said: “It is a matter of serious concern. It is very sad; we are seeing reports in press about farmers’ suicides. This needs a permanent solution. The schemes which are being brought out for their welfare are not reaching them. It appears that the authorities are failing to take the schemes to needy farmers. The officials have to take the initiative to take the schemes to needy farmers.”