Why not tenant farmers, HC poser to Telangana govt

​Hyderabad: The High Court at Hyderabad on Friday issued notices to the Telangana government and directed it to file its explanation as to why the Rythu Bandhu Scheme of financial assistance is being provided only to the land owners and not to the tenant farmers.

Justice M S Ramachandra Rao gave this direction while hearing a writ petition filed by Durgam Prashanth, a tenant farmer from Ankushapur village in Kataram mandal of Jayashankar Bhupalapally district, seeking a direction to the authorities to provide him financial assistance under the Rythu Bandhu Scheme and a loan eligibility certificate. 

The counsel for the petitioner informed the judge that the petitioner’s father was also a tenant farmer and he had committed suicide. He contended that the government’s action of limiting the benefits of the Rythu Bandhu Scheme to only land owners was wrong as the assistance is needed for tenant farmers also. 

The judge issued notices to the Principal Secretary-Agriculture, Commissioner of Agriculture and District Collector of Jayashankar Bhupalapally district and directed them to file a counter affidavit. He also directed the authorities to take a decision within three weeks on the application of the petitioner seeking issuance of loan eligibility certificate.