Farmers Movement Archive

Govt to amend law to save land of marginal farmers

Jaipur: The state government plans to amend the Code of Civil Procedure 1908 Section 60 to prevent attachment of the land of small and marginal farmers having less than five acres by decrees or for breach of agreement. The Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2020 seeks to insert a provision for exemption of agriculture land not exceeding five acres in Section 60 of the procedure, which provides for attachment or decree of various properties - moveable and immoveable- for breach of agreement or by decree. Proviso-B of this section states that property of farmers such as cattle, cowsheds, etc would be exempt from attachment. Given the farmers’ apprehension about attachment-decree of their land because of enforcement of farming contracts or otherwise, the state government is seeking through this bill to give full exemption to small farmers and others from attachment or decree of land up to five acres. The Punjab assembly had recently unanimously passed four bills and adopted a resolution against the farm laws passed by the Centre. But in the Code of Amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure (Punjab Amendment Bill) 2020, the farm land exempted from attachment of loan default is only 2.5 acres. UDH minister Shanti Dhariwal said the amendment would be taken up on November 2 in the short assembly session convened from October 31. The bills also provide for penal provisions of imprisonment and fines for sale and purchase of wheat or paddy under a farming agreement below the MSP, besides prevention of hoarding and black-marketing of agricultural produce, among other things. The assembly, which was adjourned on August 24, will resume its business on October 31, according to a notification issued by the Rajasthan Legislative Secretariat on Saturday. The government convened the assembly session to pass legislation to circumvent the three laws on agriculture passed by the Centre allowing private players in the procurement of agri produce. The Congress has been insisting on incorporating the provision of minimum support price by private players which was turned down by the Centre. The state government is also considering passing a law making wearing of masks mandatory in the state to prevent the spread of Covid infection.

The Times of India

2020-10-28

Jaipur