HC notice to Centre, Punjab govt on suicides by farmers

Chandigarh, Dec 4 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notices for March 25 next year, to the Centre and the Punjab government on a plea seeking directions for adequate compensation and rehabilitation of the families of farmers who had committed suicide in Punjab due to financial hardships.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Mahesh Grover gave the order on a writ petition filed by city-based Movement Against State Repression (MASR) headed by former Punjab legislator Inderjit Singh Jaijee.

The petitioner claimed that 2116 impoverished farmers had ended their lives between 1988 to October 2004.

The petitioner has also called for implementing the recommendations of Punjab Farmers Commission and also framing of a comprehensive policy in respect to incidents of suicides by farmers and related issues.

UNI