Chilli merchants file petition

By Shariff Ameeruddin Ishaqui

Hyderabad, May 26 : A writ petition was filed in the AP High Court by the Guntur Chillies Merchants’ Association challenging the GO issued by the state government on May 21, pertaining to payment of sale amount to the chilli farmers, who lost their stocks in fire mishap on May 3 at Guntur agriculture market yard.

The petitioner informed the court that the government issued the GO based on the recommendations made by the high power committee headed by the commissioner and director of agricultural marketing.

Mr Kilari Venkat Rosaiah, chairman of the association alleged that the committee failed to take into consideration the objections raised by the members of the association and farmers that it was the market committee who has to pay insurance premium collected by it from the seller and not from the commission agents.

The petitioner told the court that the rule did not mandates the commission agents to insure the stock. He alleged that the market committee have failed in insuring the stocks. He also alleged that the market committee failed in regulating the entry of vehicles carrying chillies and it has resulted in large unaccounting stocks dumping in the yard.

The petitioner urged the court to suspend the GO issued by the governmentbesides to seize all records pertaining to gate entries from April 1 to May 3.

The association also urged the court to direct that the government to appoint a fresh committee to asses the damage caused in the recent fire mishap at the market.