The Court noted that the government releases a subsidy of several thousand CRORs even for unvected sets of irrigation pumps of individual farmers in violation of a law that prescribes proper measurement of energy consumption by installing meters, because the subsidy is released only on the basis of estimated power consumption at each unchanged irrigation pump set. | Photo Credit: Rita Raj Konwar
The court ordered the Government of Karnataka and all companies supplying electricity (ESCOMS) to review, re -evaluate and change the existing political framework regulating subsidies for agricultural energy and ensure that agricultural societies be treated with individual farmers.
Six -month term
The authorities must take the relevant instructions in a reasonable period, preferably within six months to extend the subsidy to the power of registered agricultural societies in a manner that the court in accordance with the principles of equality, and supports cooperative agriculture and supports the court.
Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum released Pujari, Secretary, Ravaranath Yeta Neeru Balakedarara Sangha of Athani Taluk in the district of Belagavi.
The Court stated that the authorities could expand a subsidy for companies based on the head of the head, the storage of land or aggregated energy consumption on a member of the company.
Denying any
“The rejection of the power subsidy to registered agricultural companies, only because their collective consumption exceeds the prescribed limit, is hereby declared unconstitutional and arbitrary,” the court said.
“It is found that the practice of distinguishing between individual farmers and companies, based purely on collective consumption, is not in accordance with the constitutional mandate of equality before the law under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution,” the court noted.
“Refusing subsidies for societies defies logic, because the government that supports cooperative agriculture and resource sharing between small and marginal farmers cannot deny subsidies only because their collective energy consumption exceeds the prescribed limit.”
The rejection of subsidies for agricultural societies represents the penalty of farmers organizing themselves and discourages the cooperative agriculture, a critical aspect of ensuring long -term sustainability in Indian agriculture because it reduces costs and increases efficiency, the court said.
Unhealthy connections
The Court noted that the government releases a subsidy of several thousand CRORs even for unvected sets of irrigation pumps of individual farmers in violation of a law that prescribes proper measurement of energy consumption by installing meters, because the subsidy is released only on the basis of estimated power consumption at each unchanged irrigation pump set.
The Current Practice of Allowing Subsidies for Unmetered Installations Based on Estimated Consumancy While Denying Subsidy to Farmer Societies Despite Their Per Capita Capustion Being Within the Eligibility Limit Said While Pointing Out That This Action Is Not Only Legally Flawed, But Also Defeats The Very Purpose of Agricultural Subsidies, Discourages Cooperative Farming and Promotes Inephicism and Wasting Electricity.
Published – May 17, 2025 05:14
