The Kerala government is likely to approach the Supreme Court against the controversial farm laws passed by the Parliament in September. On Saturday, Agriculture Minister VS Sunil Kumar Kumar has submitted a file to the Chief Minister’s Office urging the government to move against the contentious farm laws without any delay. A final decision by the government in this regard is yet to be out.
Following the legal advice received from the Law Department, the Kerala State Agriculture Department has sought urgent intervention of the state government. The department questioned the law’s constitutional validity as they encroach upon States’ terrain since, under the Seventh Schedule of our constitution, agriculture is a State subject. Also, the department had also identified possibilities to counter the laws through legislation. Reportedly, the Law Department approved both the options. However, the department opted to approach the Apex Court.
The State government opposed the contentious farm laws stating that it opposes the interests of farmers. However, the farmers’ organisations in the state allege that the laws would threaten nation’s food security and give up sector and farmers to gig corporates.
Earlier, TN Prathapan, Congress MP from Thrissur, had approached the Supreme Court challenging the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, constitutional validity. He strongly criticised the bill and claimed that the bill had been passed without having enough discussions. He even claimed that the law was ‘liable to be struck down as unconstitutional, illegal and void.’
