HC quashes UP govt`s sugarcane price

Quashing the decision taken by its Lucknow Bench on the price for sugarcane as advised by the Uttar Pradesh government, the Allahabad High Court on Monday ordered sugar mill owners to pay farmers as per the Statutory Minimum Price fixed by the Centre.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Anjani Kumar and Rakesh Sharma allowed a writ petition filed by Basti Sugar Mills challenging the state advised price (SAP) of Rs 125 a quintal and directed the state government to speedily re-assess it in accordance with an earlier order dated December 19, 2007.

The court also said that sugar mill owners would, in the meanwhile, pay the cane growers at the rate of Rs 86 a quintal fixed by the Centre.

 

However, the order, which came more than three months after the verdict on the petition was reserved on May 9, may leave cane growers and sugar mill owners confused as many payments have been reportedly made in accordance with an interim order passed by the Lucknow Bench on November 15 last year on a petition by another sugar mill to make payment to cane growers at the rate of Rs 110 a quintal.