New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday slammed the Tamil Nadu government for the suicide of farmers and said it is obligatory on the part of the State to be sensitive and take steps to address the problems of farmers.
It may be recalled that farmers from TN are staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar in the capital to draw the attention of the Centre to their problems.
The court said the State stands on the position of a loco parentis to the citizens and when there are so many deaths of farmers in the State of Tamil Nadu, it becomes obligatory on the part of the State to express concern and sensitiveness to do the needful and not allow the impecunious and poverty stricken farmers to resign to their fate or leave the downtrodden and the poor to yield to the idea of fatalism.
A three-judge bench of Justices Dipak Misra, A.M. Kanwilkar and M.M. Shantanagouder passed this interim order on a special leave petition filed by Tamil nadu Centre for Public Interest Litigation.
The bench said the concept (of fatalism) is alien in the welfare State and the social justice which is required to be translated in a democratic body polity. As is manifest from the assertions and the grievances that have been agitated, deaths are due to famine backdrop and other natural causes and also due to immense financial problem. The State, as the guardian, is required to see how to solve these problems or to meet the problems by taking curative measures treating it as a natural disaster. Silence is not the answer.
The Bench said “the present special leave petition depicts a picture which has the potentiality to disturb the conscience of any sensitive soul, for it relates to deaths of farmers, which has its significance in a society where agriculture is of paramount importance and most of the farmers exclusively depend upon the same for their sustenance.”
Counsel C.R. Jaya Sukin, appearing for the petitioner pointed out that the Madras High Court has failed to appreciate the real grievance that was highlighted in the writ petition and has disposed of the same by directing to obtain information under the Right to Information Act, 2005.
The Bench said “On a perusal of the order passed by the High Court, we find that it has really not touched the issue that was required to be appositely dealt with. On a perusal of the special leave petition and the averments made, we notice that the petitioner has suggested certain aspects by which the conditions of the farmers can be ameliorated. That apart, it is highlighted that it is the obligation of the State to address the distressing conditions of the farmers who are compelled to commit suicide for many a reason.”
The bench said as is reflectible, the suggestions are demarcated into two compartments, namely, preventive and curative. In such a situation, the bench said “we have thought it appropriate to have the assistance of an amicus curiae and accordingly we appoint Mr Gopal Shankar Narayan, as an amicus curiae to assist the Court.”
