Sub-Divisional Magistrates & Collectors Are More Equipped To Adjudicate On All Disputes Under Farm Law: Centre In Lok Sabha

Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Collectors are more equipped to adjudicate on all legal and contractual disputes emanating from Farm Laws, the Centre said in Lok Sabha.

The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers welfare Narendra Singh Tomar said that a 'quick and cost effective dispute resolution mechanism' is provided to resolve the disputes relating to Farm Acts under Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion & Facilitation) Act 2020, and Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020.

"The executive officers at Sub Divisional level and District Collectors perform the functions relating to land revenue including maintaining land records and resolving the disputes relating to crops and land. Thus, they have sufficient field experiences relating to agriculture & land disputes as well as on judicial practices. In view of the above, they are more equipped to adjudicate on all legal and contractual disputes emanating from these Farm Legislations.", the Minister said in response to the query by MP TN Prathapan.

Farm Laws provides for conciliation and dispute settlement mechanism for settlement of disputes under the farming agreement. The jurisdiction of civil courts over such disputes have been barred, and they are to be resolved through the resolution mechanism provided by the new laws. At first, all disputes shall be referred to a Conciliation Board for resolution. If the dispute remains unresolved by the Board after thirty days, parties may approach the Sub-divisional Magistrate for resolution. Parties will have a right to appeal to an Appellate Authority against decisions of the Magistrate. Both the Magistrate and Appellate Authority will be required to dispose of a dispute within thirty days from the receipt of the application. Read more on Farm Laws here.

Responding to some other queries on protests by Farmers, the Minister said that Farmer Unions never agreed to discuss the farm laws excepting for demanding their repeal. Government is always open to discussion with farmers Union and will remain open to discussion with agitating farmers to resolve the issue, he added.

The Minister also said that Government does not propose to provide any compensation to the families of the farmers who died during the protests. Government during discussion with farmers' Union appealed to them that children and elders especially women should be allowed to go home in view of the cold and COVID situation, he said.