PAKALA SRIHARI RAO Vs. UNION OF INDIA, REP BY ITS FINANCE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, NEW DELHI AND OTHERS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) We have heard Sri Y. Balaji, learned counsel for the petitioner in this Writ Petition.

(2.) Having regard to the nature of the directions being issued hereunder, we dispense with notice to the respondents preserving their right to seek re-hearing of this Writ Petition, if aggrieved by the terms of this order.

(3.) The sum and substance of this Writ Petition is that, according to the petitioner, the farmers in the State of Telangana, who are entitled to certain financial support by way of loan facility are not being extended such support by the different banking institutions, to which the Reserve Bank of India Master Directions, which is Ex.P1, applies. The plea is that those Master Directions, in so far as farm credits in agricultural sector are concerned, include among other things, the eligibility of distressed farmers indebted to non-institutional lenders, to disbursement of loans. The petitioner highlights this particular term of the Master Directions of the Reserve Bank of India and pleads that the farmers who have made applications for such relief to the different banking institutions have not received positive response to such requests. In such circumstances, the petitioner, who, as a Member of the Telangana State Commission for Debt Relief (Small Farmers, Agricultural Labourers and Rural Artisans) is stated to have made different representations including by bunching up and forwarding copies of the representations of farmers of Medak District and requesting intervention of the banking institutions to which the aforesaid Reserve Bank of India Master Direction applies.