Another green revolution: Haryana farmers file more consumer cases

The State Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission of Haryana is receiving an increasing number of complaints from rural areas. Though the maximum complaints are recorded against government bodies like Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) and Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA),there are also many complaints made by farmers against the quality of products supplied by seed and fertiliser companies and their advertisers,according to records available with the commission.

In a recent case which came up for hearing before the state commission on Tuesday,a farmer from Palra village in Jhajjar district had moved the district court against a seed manufacturing company for deficiency in service and unfair trade practice. The farmer complained that on sowing the paddy seeds bought from the opposite party,he noticed that a mixed variety of crop had grown in his field. He also moved an application to the Deputy Director Agriculture,Jhajjar,who constituted a committee and inspected the fields of the complainant reporting that 70 per cent of the plants were of the same character but the remaining 30 per cent were ‘jungli paddy’ which could result in contaminated and defective seeds. The district consumer forum held the report as evidence and ordered the opposite party to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation to the farmer for the loss of crop he suffered and the litigation expenses. This decision was upheld even by the state forum against the appeal made by the seed manufacturer.

In a similar case last year,a complaint was filed by a farmer from Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa district against a seed company and its distributors. The complainant said that the crop resulting from the lobia seed he bought from the opposite party did not resemble the vegetable variety of cowpea. The district forum referred the case to Haryana Agriculture University which,after inspection,reported that the crop was fodder crop and not vegetable crop resulting in no production of pods. The opposite party was eventually held responsible for supplying sub-standard lobia seeds to the complainant and was ordered to pay Rs 1,76,000 as compensation.

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According to officials at the state commission,about 15 per cent of all cases received here involve farmers. “The rural population of Haryana is becoming more aware of its rights and and know the legal remedies available to them,” said Justice R S Madan,president of State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. He added that there were about 400 complaints made every month,many of which were from individuals belonging to villages in the state.

In another case relating to supply of sub-standard paddy seeds,the case was decided in favour of the complainant,a resident of Dhalour village in Yamuna Nagar district,even in his absence.