The High Court on Tuesday directed the Chief Secretary to consider a representation from sugarcane farmers to ensure that sugar factories clear their dues promptly.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice S N Satyanarayana passed the order on a petition filed by A C Chandra Shekar, a farmer from Mandya district. Shekar sought directions to all 58 sugarcane factories in the State not to keep dues beyond 14 days. The rules stipulate 15 per cent interest after that.
G R Mohan, counsel for the petitioner, said according to RTI information obtained from the Commissioner for Cane Development, as on September 25, 21 sugar factories owed farmers Rs 161.40 crore.
Notice Ordered
The HC issued notice to the State government, Commissioner for Cane Development, Shamanur Sugars Ltd and Davangere Sugars on a petition filed by sugarcane farmers of Davanagere district, challenging the government notification directing them to sell their produce to factories in the zone.
Counsel for the petitioners said that on October 19, the government issued a notification stating that farmers in the zone should sell their sugarcane to Shamanur Sugars Ltd, owned by Minister Shamanur Shivashankarappa, and Davangere Sugars, owned by his s0n MLA S S Mallikarjun.
The petitioners sought to quash the notification and allow them to sell their produce wherever they want.
Order on Slums
The High Court on Tuesday directed the government and Slum Development Board to rehabilitate slum dwellers from Jai Bhuvaneshwari Nagar near Rajiv Gandhi Institute Of Chest Diseases campus to Kudlu Gate, within three months.