In its landmark decision Delhi High Court has abolished commission of 6 percent from the farmers and fruit growers of the Sate by commission agents in Azadpur market at Delhi, thereby providing big relief to the farmers and fruit growers of the State and the country as a whole.
The Delhi High Court had extended due relief to the fruit and vegetables growers of the. The state government has raised the issue empathically with the government of India from time to time and a petition was also filed in the court by HP State Agriculture Marketing Board wherein it was pleaded that the growers and farmers were being charged exorbitant commission by ‘Aartihas’ (Commission Agents) on the sale of the produce.
Hailing the decision of the Delhi High Court, Chairman, HP State Agriculture Marketing Board, Dr. Subhash Manglate said that it was due to the efforts of the Congress Government and Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh that the matter was taken up time and again with the GoI and finally with the Delhi High Court to provide relief to the farmers of the State.
Dr. Manglate said that the matter was pursued way back in 1994 during the Chief Ministership of Virbhadra Singh that the matter was raised with the Centre and since then, the fight was on to save the farmers from the clutches of the commission agents.
He said that it was the illegal commission amounting to Rs 800 crore was charged from the farmers since 1999 to 2014 at the rate of six percent plus two percent market fee. He said that the matter was also taken up with other Hill State and Council of State Agriculture Marketing Board so that the voice of the farmers could be taken up on a common platform.
Meanwhile, the commission agents also filed a review petition with Delhi High Court against the Board, however, the Delhi High Court dismissed the plea.
Manglate said that the Congress Party was a true benefactor of the people of the State and the decision would benefit as many as lakhs of farmers and the credit of the same goes to the present Congress government in the State.
