Kochi: The Election Commission of India has granted permission to the state government to hike rates for Rice Mill owners to procure and transport paddy.
The EC, however, asked the state not to make any announcement or formal inauguration of the scheme.
“There should not be any involvement of political functionaries in the implementation process and no publicity shall be made on electronic, print, radio, internet or any other media. No political functionary shall make any reference in this regard during any public speech or communication to the press or public and no ministers or local body members would be involved in this process," it informed the Kerala High Court.
According to the state government, the processing and transportation charges for paddy by the Supplyco to the mill owners was introduced as a policy decision by the government in 2014 and it was fixed at Rs 143 per quintal. The state submitted that the decision was taken to protect the farmers so as to get instant prices for their commodities at reasonable prices without delay.
For the financial year 2015-16, the government sought to revise the prices by proposing an escalation of 190 per quintal and the cabinet was approved it on March 2. The state government could not issue the order due to the declaration of election. The same was challenged before the high court.
