Madurai: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has ordered notice to authorities on public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking a direction to authorities to pay interest amount for belated payment of Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for crushed sugarcane, reported The Hindu.
The petitioner, Swamimalai Sundara Vimal Nathan of Thanjavur district, sought the payment of interest from 2017-2018 to 2022-2023 payable by sugar mills including cooperative sector, public sector and private sector operating at Thanjavur, Theni, Tiruchi, Sivaganga and Madurai districts. He wanted the court to direct the government to ensure payment of the said interest amount to farmers as per Clause 3-A of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966, in an expeditious manner.
Sugar mills are required to pay FRP within 14 days of crop procurement, but Nathan alleged many sugar mills are not providing the same and also not paying 15% interest for the period of delay.
The New Indian Express reported that a Bench of justices SS Sundar and D Bharatha Chakravarthy issued notice to the authorities concerned and adjourned the case.
