KAPIL DEV VERMA Vs. STATE OF CHHATTISGARH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The above captioned Writ Petitions involve common questions of law and facts therefore, they were heard together and are being disposed of by this common order.

(2.) The above-mentioned Writ Petitions have been preferred by Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies through their Managers seeking therein direction(s) to respondent authorities to lift the paddy from paddy procurement centres.

(3.) The facts in a nutshell are that the State Government took the decision to purchase paddy at respective paddy procurement centres directly from farmers and a tripartite agreement was entered into between the CG. State Co-operative Marketing Federation, District Co-operative Central Bank Ltd. and Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies in the months of October-November, 2023. The managers of Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies engaged themselves or appointed their representatives to purchase paddy from farmers at paddy procurement centres. According to the terms and conditions of the agreements, the CG. State Co-operative Marketing Federation had to lift the buffer stock within an outer limit of 72 hours or up to 28/2/2024. The last date of the paddy purchase was 4/2/2024. Storage, purchase process, computerization etc. was to be done by the Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies. The grievance of the petitioners is that the buffer stock was purchased by the respective paddy procurement centres but the paddy was not lifted by the CG. State Cooperative Marketing Federation within the agreed period. It is further stated that non-lifting of paddy may cause a shortage in quantity of paddy and the petitioners have an apprehension that respondent authorities may initiate penal proceedings against them. The petitioners have further pleaded that various representations were made to the respondent authorities but no heed was paid.