- (1.) Heard learned Counsel for the Petitioner and Shri R.B. Sahai, learned Counsel for Respondent No. 3 i.e. State Bank of India, Branch Chandausi District Mooradabad.
(2.) Petitioner took a loan of Rs. 3,60,000/- from Respondent No. 3 on 14.9.2007 for agricultural purposes (Para-3 of the writ petition). Citation has been issued on 16.8.2010 seeking to recover Rs. 4,51,000/- and odd from the Petitioner. 10% recovery charges have also been added making the total to Rs. 4,96,000/- and odd. Out of the said amount Petitioner has deposited Rs. 70,407/- on 25.9.2010 (para-7 of the writ petition). Out of this amount of Rs. 70,000/- and odd, Rs. 64,000/- have been adjusted towards loan and interest and Rs. 6,400/- towards recovery charges.
(3.) If a farmer has not been able to pay the loan along with interest and recovery proceedings have been initiated against him it is rather cruel on the part of the State to extract 10% more from him as recovery charges. The farmers, particularly small farmers, are the most exploited lot in this country. If the price of any thing except food grains rises, no one bothers. It is considered to be sign of development. However, if prices of food grains rise, which may benefit the farmers to some extent, entire country, except the farmers starts crying. Giving big loans to farmers, bigger than their actual, minimum requirement for agricultural purposes, is against their own interest. It is utilized by them for other purposes. Thereafter they are not able to return the same. The Government should re-consider as to whether it is advisable and whether it serves social justice in any manner by charging 10% recovery charges which is quite huge from the farmers.;