UP: Farmers Asked To Pay Up To Rs 10 Lakhs As Personal Bonds To Protest, Allahabad HC Steps In

The Allahabad High Court has sought a response from the district administration in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur on the "exorbitant" amount of personal bonds and sureties sought from farmers, to prevent them from participating in the ongoing farm protests.

The court intervention came in a PIL filed by Lucknow-based social activist Arundhati Dhuru.

BCCL

In his petition, Dhuru said that Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) in various districts of the state, including Sitapur, had issued notices to thousands of farmers under Section 111 of the CrPC. The farmers were informed that the police suspected that they may get involved in the ongoing farmers' protest and commit breach of peace.

Bonds between Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh

Dhuru said that several orders were passed on December 19 by SDMs of the different areas of the district, issuing notices to farmers, including women, calling them to furnish personal bonds of Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh and two sureties in the like amount, on apprehension that he or she would violate the law and order in the light of the ensuing farmers protest in the district.

BCCL

The court has asked the administration under what circumstances farmers were asked to furnish such "exorbitant" amount of personal bond and two sureties. The matter would be heard on February 2.

The petitioner's counsel submitted that notices were not only baseless but also took away the fundamental rights of a person, as farmers were not allowed to come out of their houses.

BCCL

Not the first time

This is not the first time farmer leaders in UP have been asked to submit personal bonds to hold protests against the farm laws.

In December, the Sambhal district administration in Uttar Pradesh had issued notices to six farmer leaders asking them to submit personal bonds of Rs 50 lakhs each to prevent them from ¡°inciting¡± farmers to join the protests against the new farm laws.

BCCL

The notices were issued to Bharatiya Kisan Union (Asli) district president Rajpal Singh Yadav and farmer leaders Jaiveer Singh, Brahmachari Yadav, Satendra Yadav, Raudas and Veer Singh. They have been organising protests in the district over the Centre's three contentious farm legislations.

The farmers said the amount was too much, following which the police station incharge gave another report and they were asked to submit personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each.

BCCL

The development comes at a time when the farmers' protest is increasingly facing criticism after the massive violence that unfolded on Tuesday during the tractor rally in Delhi on Republic Day.