Public interest litigation has been filed before the Madhya Pradesh High Court highlighting the wastage of farmers’ produce and irregularity in collection and storage of grain. The case was heard by the Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Yadav in which the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food Corporation of India and the Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, have been made parties.

Counsel Himanshu Mishra filed the case on behalf of Jabalpur activist Krishak Gulab Singh. Mishra said that every year hundreds of tonnes of grain rot in the warehouses of the country and the godowns have not been used to save the produce of farmers.

When a complaint comes to light, an inquiry is made by handing over the investigation to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) or sometimes the matter arises in the assembly or Parliament. However, in the end, the file is closed and the duty is over, counsel added, without resolving the issue.

Earlier, the Supreme Court also took very serious note of the matter and clarified that if there is no power to save the hard work of the government it would be better to divide the produce among the poor before it rots. 

Mishra said, despite the apex court taking serious note of the matter, years have passed but news of the rotting of many tonnes of rice kept in warehouses, sometimes wheat and sometimes vegetables, still come to light.

After a preliminary hearing on the case, the judge granted an extension in connection with the technical error in the PIL. The case will be heard next on January 4.

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