Three major bills named as the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill (commonly referred to as the APMC Bypass Bill), and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill were being passed in Parliament in the monsoon session which was concluded recently.
The bills signify the involvement of private parties and commodities into the agricultural sector. The ruling party emphasizes that the farmers will get more benefits out of these bills. But the implementation of these bills legs to an outburst and agitation among the farmers all around the country. The farmers have recently called for ‘Bharat Bandh’ on September 25.
The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) has written a letter to the Prime Minister questioning the new farm bills and said that the bill is more hurtful to lawyers and litigants. BCD member Rajiv Khosla mentioned that the bills have created a great disappointment among the farmers all over the country and this should need to be observed in an empathetic way towards the welfare of the farmers.
Mr. Khosla stated in his written letter to the Hon’ble Prime minister: -
"We cannot lose sight of the fact that these are not routine bills but have wider implications, as the broadly extended scope of new areas included in the bills is substantially related to commercial activities. Introduction of sponsors, LLPS, Partnership Firms, etc, in addition to the establishment of Electronic Trading and Transaction Platform; execution of Farming Agreement; Trade and Commerce Agreements, apart from permitting a free market to sell agriculture produce in any part of the country, are a few of areas covered”.
The Bar council points out that as the Civil Courts of jurisdiction have been debarred from involvement in any of the subject matter related to these bills, this implies a clear case of mockery to the judicial system and a hurtful act towards the lawyers and litigants. The Council further criticized the bill and appealed he Government not enforce and applicable of the above said bills
