The Allahabad High Court today issued contempt notices to 10 Uttar Pradesh District Magistrates for their alleged failure to ensure payment of dues to sugarcane farmers despite an order having been passed to the effect five months ago.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Suneet Kumar, asked the DMs of Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Kasganj, Pilibhit, Bahraich, Maharajganj and Badaun to show cause why contempt proceedings would not be issued against them for their "failure" to comply with order dated September 5, 2014.
The court also fixed February 25 as the next date of hearing on the contempt petition filed by a farmers' organisation, Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan.
The petitioner had earlier filed a public interest litigation, on which the September 5 order was passed, alleging that dues to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore had not been paid to sugarcane growers of the state.
