A public interest litigation filed by the Council of Lawyers regarding the damage caused by the floods in Punjab will be heard today (October 1) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The petition urges the court to form a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of the High Court, with a retired or serving High Court judge as its chairperson.
The PIL aims to accurately assess the damage caused by the floods in Punjab, monitor relief operations, and ensure timely compensation to farmers. The High Court is expected to hear the petition on Thursday.
The petition demands that the government immediately should update land records (Girdawari) to ensure accurate damage assessment. Correct assessment will be helpful for giving appropriate compensation to farmers for their crop losses, as per the Punjab Revenue Code.
The petitioners have requested a drone survey to ensure a more accurate damage assessment. Tractor and Kisan Credit Card loans of flood-affected farmers should be waived, and a dedicated online portal should be established to redress farmers’ grievances.
The petition is an important battle for farmers
Advocate Vasu Ranjan Shandilya, President of the Council of Lawyers, stated that this petition is an important battle for farmers to prevent them from committing suicide out of despair. He stated that the government’s failure to update the Girdawari records and provide concrete relief measures necessitated the filing of this petition.
Shandilya expressed confidence that the High Court will provide relief to the farmers and that the Council of Lawyers will continue their fight selflessly.