Allahabad High Court asked authorities of Uttar Pradesh onMonday regarding the notices issued by Sub Divisional Magistrates to farmers tofurnish, 'exorbitant personal bonds' at a time when farmers are protestingacross India.
Justice Ramesh Singha and Justice Rajeev Singh'sdivisional bench passed an order in a PIL filed by Social Activist ArundhatiDhuru that challenged the notices issued under section 111 of the code ofcriminal procedure to furnish personal bond ranging between Rs 50,000 to 10Lakh, including two sureties of like amount citing apprehension of breach of lawand order situation amid protests.
Social Activist Dhuru said, the notices filed by DistrictAdministration of Sitapur is, "causing them financial harship and notallowing them to move freely from their dwelling place." It was reportedby Live Law.
Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate IB Singh said thenotices issued by SDM under District Magistrate of Sitapur are"baseless." It has taken away their fundamental rights becuase"farmers are not allowed to come out from their houses as the police havesurrounded their houses."
Singh added that the bond and sureties are too exorbitantand couldn't be met by the poor farmers. The divisional bench ordered in anurgent hearing, "Considering the averments made in the present writpetition and notices, which have been issued to the farmers, who are tractorowners, we deem it appropriate to call instructions from the State authoritiesas to under what circumstances such an exorbitant amount of personal bond andtwo sureties have been asked to furnish to them."
The case will next be heard on February 2. It has alsobeen reported that ahead of the tractor rally, UP administration had askedpetrol stations in all districts of UP to not provide fuel to the farmers.However, the UP police said the notices have been withdrawn.