Show cause notice to Punjab agri secretary on farmers suicide

Chandigarh, Oct 17 (UNI) Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice, returnable by October 31, to Punjab agriculture secretary G S Cheema to show cause as to why contempt of court proceedings be not initiated against him for failure to implement the assurance given to the court for paying compensation to the families of indebted farmers who committed suicide.

The notice was issued by the Division Bench of acting Chief Justice S S Nijjar and Justice S S Saron .

The bench's order came on an application by Movement Against State Repression (MASR), through its convenor and ex-MLA Inderjit Singh Jaijee, who pointed out that the Punjab government counsel had assured the court last year about setting up a Farmers Commission which would go into the matter for paying compensation to the affected families of farmers.

It was pointed out that the commission had been set up but no further action as yet was taken despite assurance to the court.

UNI XC HS VD BST2138