Farmers suicides: Cant change policy

Bhatnagar,who argued in person,requested the court to not leave farmers to the mercy of God and to initiate a process by which the government adopts a humane approach to farmers concerns and reviews the policy at a micro-level.

The Bench went on to give a rather simple description of the petition as one seeking a review of the existing agricultural policy so that there is no suicide of farmers.

When Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval,appearing for the Centre,said a committee formed in 2006 had suggested various measures to contain the suicides,Bhatnagar asked,Why did the suicides not stop after the constitution of this committee. About 3,450 farmers have committed suicide in the three states. Waiving off loans is not enough to prevent a farmer with pest-ridden crops from committing suicide.

The court said that though it found that Bhatnagars plea highlighted a genuine cause,it was not within judicial purview to go into whether the panels suggestions were adequate or not.