MADIYAPPADAM PADASEKHARA SAMITHI Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These writ petitions are filed by the Padasekhara Samithies and paddy cultivators in the Palakkad District.

(2.) The issue involved in both the writ petitions is common. Therefore, it is appropriate to dispose of the cases by a common judgment.

(3.) The Government of Kerala have implemented the paddy procurement scheme and entrusted the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (hereinafter referred to as 'Civil Supplies Corporation') as an implementing agency for paddy procurement. The Civil Supplies Corporation formulated certain guidelines for procurement of paddy from farmers. The Civil Supplies Corporation is the implementing agency for paddy procurement, processing and marketing as authorised by the State Government. They do not have modern rice mill to process the paddy. Therefore, activities related to the scheme like transporting of paddy, storage, processing and distribution of rice are being carried through private entrepreneurs on contract basis. The farmers have to bring the paddy to the procurement centre. The contracted mills will arrange transportation of paddy from the procurement centres to mills. In the guidelines, it is stated that the farmers have to bring the products at the procurement centre determined by the paddy marketing officer.