Delhi HC gives relief to Himachal apple farmers

Himachal Pradesh’s apple farmers will no longer have to pay commission to sell their produce in Delhi’s Azadpur market after an order of the Delhi High Court.

“The court order has directed the Delhi government and Azadpur Agriculture Produce Market Committee(APMC) to strictly follow the amended bylaws so that commission is charged from buyers and not sellers(apple farmers),” said Narender Bragta, Himachal Horticulture Minister.

The law was amended in 1999 by the APMC but was not being implemented.

The Himachal government had over the years taken the matter with the APMC and the Delhi government but the apple farmers continued to be charged 6 to 8 per cent commission by fruit merchants in Azadpur.

“Last August the Himachal government moved the Delhi high court in response to the Delhi government and APMC’s affidavit filed in the same court which stated that commission would continue to be charged from the seller(farmers),” Bragta said.

“The court order has made it clear that the commission was being illegally charged from growers and there is a strong case of recovery of the amount now,”Bragta said.

The court order is likely to benefit all farmers who sell their produce in Delhi’s Azadpur market which is considered one of the biggest in Asia.