SC demands action plan for farmer suicides

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Union government to submit a plan of action within four weeks to stop farmer suicides in the country. A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice J S Khehar told Additional Solicitor General P S Narasimha that the government should come out with a policy to deal with the root cause of the issue.

“It is a very serious issue and the Centre should file the proposed line of action to be taken by states with regard to the farmers’ suicide within four weeks,” the bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, said.

The court asked the government to coordinate with Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka among others to prepare its plan of action, as agriculture is a state subject. During the hearing, Narasimha said the government was taking all possible steps, adding that the government is working on a comprehensive to stop farmers’ suicide.