The laws reduce the rigour of regulations relating to sale, pricing and storing of farm produce. They allow trade outside APMCs bypassing middlemen, state taxes and cess and allow even share-croppers to sign contracts for farming with private parties. Changes in the Essential Commodities Act also takes off food items such as cereals and pulses off the list, doing away with curbs on its trade. The laws have been already challenged by RJD MP Manoj Jha, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva and Rakesh Vaishnav of the Chhattisgarh Kisan Congress. A SC bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde sought the government’s views on the laws on October 12, on their petitions. The case is, however, yet to come up for the next hearing.
BKU’s petition said that most farmers were illiterate and lack the bargaining power to negotiate the best terms with a private company. The petition sought court intervention to ensure that the minimum support price system continues and any withdrawal of electricity and other subsidies. The petition also sought creation of a farmers’ commission to decide pricing of farm produce to prevent suicide of farmers. A farmers’ commission should include representatives of farmers, it said, as suggested in its representation to the PM on the issue.