Punjab Floods | High Court Asks State Govt To Decide On Compensation For Farmers Who Suffered Less Than 25% Crop Loss

In the aftermath of the Punjab floods, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the state government to decide a representation alleging policy gap regarding absence of provision for compensating farmers who have suffered less than 25% crop loss.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry asked the State Government to decide the representation filed on the issue as expeditiously as possible.

The PIL filed by Advocate Vasu Ranjan Shandilya stated that notification issued by the Punjab Government prescribes compensation for crop losses above 25%, while completely excluding losses between 01-25%, thereby depriving lakhs of small and marginal farmers--who constitute nearly 85% of Punjab's farming population--from any relief. Such exclusion is arbitrary, unreasonable, and violative of Article 14 (Right to Equality) and Article 21 (Right to Life) of the Constitution of India.

It was submitted that despite forwarding of the representation by the CMO to the Agriculture Department, no action has been taken till date.

It was also alleged that farmer suicides in Punjab (over 16,606 reported in 2015 alone, and one every 30 minutes since 2002), and recent floods (Aug-Sept 2025) affecting over 2 lakh acres of land, causing irreparable financial and human loss. Reports from Times of India (13.09.2025) and Indian Express (21.09.2025) further highlight the plight of farmers and the absence of specific parameters for compensation.

On the other hand, the State Counsel submitted that the representation was filed only on September 25.

Without deciding the issue on merit, the plea was disposed of.

Title: VASU RANJAN SHANDILYA v. STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS

Advocated Abhishek Malhotra, Vasu Ranjan Shandilya for the petitioner