New Delhi: The government on Friday told the Supreme Court that it has taken all possible steps for implementation of National Policy for Farmers (NPF)-2007 for the development and growth of agriculture and betterment of farmers.
In its counter affidavit filed in response to a PIL seeking to implement NPF, the Ministry of Agriculture said that no comparison can be made about increase or decrease of prices of one commodity viz-a-viz other commodities as it depends on demand and supply and market forces.
"The government has taken all possible steps for implementation of National Policy for Farmers 2007 for the development and growth of agriculture and allied sectors as well for the betterment of farmers...
"India has not only ensured self-sufficiency in most agricultural crops but has also built sufficient buffer stocks and is also in a position to export agricultural commodities to other countries," the affidavit said, adding that the only areas where production is deficient are pulses and oil/seeds.
The matter was listed before a bench comprising justices SJ Mukhopadhaya and NV Ramana which posted it for hearing after six weeks after taking on record the additional affidavit placed before it by Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh.
The PIL filed by the Consortium of Farmers Association in 2011 had sought implementation of NPF and said despite spiralling agricultural product prices, the tillers continue to be poor and debt-ridden.
The Centre had earlier also filed an affidavit and supplementary affidavit in response to the notices issued to it.
The PIL has accused the government of sitting idle since 2007 on the national farmers policy, framed on the recommendations of M S Swaminathan Commission.
Earlier, the 15 convicts, belonging to Jat community, were
held guilty for setting ablaze victim Tara Chand's house, which caused the death on April 21, 2010 at Mirchpur. The incident took place after a dispute between Jat and Dalit communities of the village.
They were convicted in the case by a Delhi trial court on September 24, 2011.
Three persons were sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court on October 31, 2011 for their involvement in the killings.
Five others were sentenced to varying jail terms up to five years and seven convicts were let off on probation for one year.
The court had earlier acquitted 82 out of 97 accused in the case saying the allegations levelled against them were not proved beyond reasonable doubt.
The accused resorted to rioting and attacked the houses of members of Dalit community on April 21 as a pet dog of a Dalit had barked at a group of Jats two days ago when they were passing through the colony, according to the charge sheet.
They got enraged when a Dalit boy objected to hurling of stones by Jat youths at the dog, it had said, adding later it led to the killings.
