During the hearing of the petition filed by T Y Katta, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice H G Ramesh observed that the scheme should reach the poor and needy at least for five years.
Advocate General Ashok Harnahalli submitted that the scheme would cover a minimum of 10 lakh farmers this year alone.
He informed the Court that the Agriculture Department has received around 21,05,556 applications - on an average 5,000 from each taluk.
According to the terms of the scheme, a marginal farmer owning less than five acres of land would get Rs 10,000 in two instalments and those with one acre of land would get Rs 5,000 from the government.
Harnahalli, however, said the scheme cannot reach the needy in a limited period of time.
Replying to the Court’s observation on selecting beneficiaries through draw of lots, the Advocate General said the system would not be adopted in case of limited number of applications.
