Kerala to move SC against farm laws; 'Alternative laws will be considered,' says Agri Min

Amid ongoing impasse between Centre and farmers over contentious agrarian laws introduced by NDA government earlier this year, Kerala government has decided to move Supreme Court against three laws. Kerala Agriculture Minister VS Sunil Kumar has asserted that state ministration will move top court this week itself against 'anti-farm laws,' ding that y won't be implemented in state. 

state's Agriculture Minister also alleged that Centre is 'centralising power' on mselves by 'violating' Constitution in favour of corporates. "According to Constitution, central government does t have power to make laws unilaterally on matters which come under purview of state government. But what has happened w is blatant violation of Constitution," local media quoted Kumar on Monday evening. 

It is important to te, that Supreme Court has been moved earlier as well against se laws. RJD lawmaker from Rajya Sabha, Maj Jha and DMK Rajya Sabha MP from Tamil Nu, Tiruchi Siva, and Rakesh Vaishnav of Chhattisgarh Kisan Congress h moved top court contending that three laws are against constitutional provisions. Hearing pleas against laws that received President Ram Nath Kovind's assent on September 27, apex court bench heed by Chief Justice SA Bobde h asked Centre to file a response within four weeks. 

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Appearing for Chhattisgarh Kisan Congress, vocate K Parameshwar h submitted to top court that three laws have repealed state law of Chattisgarh on mandi system. On or hand, DMK MP Tiruchi Siva h contended that laws infringed upon state government's jurisdiction as Constitution puts most agriculture-related subject in states' domain. Moreover, Supreme Court h also restored PIL filed by vocate ML Sharma in same case. 

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What are three agrarian laws? 

three laws which have created a nationwide stir include  Farmers' Produce Tre and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 which aims at freeing farmers from constraints of state Agriculture Produce Market Committees whereby y would be able to sell ir produce anywhere. Secondly, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 protects and empowers farmers to eng with processors, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters for farm services. This entails provision of contract farming. On or hand, Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 specifies that supply of foodstuffs including cereals, pulses, potato, edible oilseeds, and oils shall be regulated only under exceptional circumstances. 

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Centre-farmers discussions continue 

decision to move top court comes even as Centre continues to hold discussions with farmers' unions over three laws. So far, five rounds of deliberations have been held which have ended inconclusively, with sixth round scheduled to be held on December 9. dressing media on Saturday, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar asserted that Minimum Support Price system will continue, he expressed that Centre's willingness to dress concerns regarding this. Moreover, Tomar stated that Union government will deliberate on all demands of farmers. farmers protest on borders of national capital has entered its 12th day with unions calling for a 'Bharat Bandh' on Tuesday against three farm laws. 

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