PERUKA SAMBAIAH Vs. AGRICULTURAL OFFICER

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Aggrieved by the order in C.C.No.249/2000 on the file of District Forum, Karimnagar, the complainant preferred this appeal.

(2.) The brief facts as set out in the complaint are that the complainant on the advise of the Agricultural Officer, planted red gram seed of L.R.G. 30 variety believing that it is a high yielding crop and is very profitable giving yield of 8 quintals per acre in one crop. The complainant submits that the said crop comes to harvest within four months from the date of sowing the seed in the land. On the advise of the opposite party no.1 the complainant purchased 8 kgs. of red gram seed on 24.12.1999 and sowed the seed in 1 acre 20 guntas of land and also purchased fertilizers and provided sufficient water to the crop and spent Rs.25,000/- on agricultural practices, but upto 5 months there was no yield. On 24.5.2000 the complainant gave an application to the said Agricultural Officer i.e. opposite party no.1 and he advised the complainant to wait for some time and the complainant again in the month of December 2000 approached Asst.Director of Agriculture about the crop yielding and this was also reported in the news papers but both of them did not give him any compensation inspite of the fact that he spent Rs.30,000/- for ploughing the soil, for DAP fertilizers, for crop management practices, water, watchmen expenses etc. Vexed with the attitude of the opposite parties, the complainant approached the District Forum seeking direction to the opposite parties to pay Rs.30,264/- together with interest at 18% together with compensation and costs.

(3.) Opposite party no.1 filed counter stating that keeping in view the power shortage and to improve soil and water utility as per the government programme, instead of paddy I.D. crops, red gram LRG 30 crop was encouraged and these seeds were supplied by A.P.State Seeds Development Corporation Ltd. The said seed was supplied to the complainant herein at 50% subsidy as per the programme. He submits that he never gave guarantee about the yield of the crop and he submits that the duration of variety is 135 to 140 days and admits that the complainant had given a complaint on 25.5.2000 and against this complaint he visited the field on 29.5.2000 and found that there was no flowering or pod formation in the crop. Opp.party submits that on 13.6.2000 he even sent a report to the Joint Director of Agriculture, Karimnagar & Asst. Director of Agriculture and he submits that Redgram LRG-30 seed is produced and marketed by A.P.State Seeds Development Corporation Ltd., Karimnagar which is solely responsible for the quality of the seed and he has nothing to do with the deficiency in service what so ever.