The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the Centre on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking curbs on the import of yellow peas, citing adverse impact on the livelihood of Indian farmers engaged in pulse cultivation.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan, and N Kotiswar Singh sought the Union government’s reply on the petition filed by farmers’ body Kisan Mahapanchayat. The petition was argued by advocate Prashant Bhushan.
While agreeing to examine the issue, the bench observed that any restriction on imports must be balanced with consumer interests.
“We are inclined to issue notice but the net result should not be that the end consumers suffer,” the bench remarked.
The court also asked Bhushan to examine whether domestic production of pulses was sufficient to meet demand.
Bhushan submitted that yellow peas, imported at nearly half the cost of indigenous pulses, have severely affected pulse farmers.
“The import of yellow peas at Rs 35 per kg is hitting farmers cultivating tur dal, moong dal, and urad dal, who receive a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 85 per kg,” he said.
He pointed out that expert committees, including government bodies, had recommended against such imports, warning of their adverse impact on the pulse sector. Even the Agriculture Ministry and Niti Aayog, he argued, had advised enhancing local production rather than allowing cheap imports.
The bench also raised concerns about the quality and health effects of yellow peas.
“You don’t allow imports of yellow peas and then there is a shortage created in the market. We have to avoid that… Have you examined its health impact?” the judges asked.
Bhushan responded that consumption of yellow peas, which are used as cattle fodder in some countries, could have negative health implications, adding that the issue was causing widespread farmer distress.
“Large number of farmers are dying and committing suicide,” he submitted.
Yellow peas, considered a cheaper substitute for pulses, are imported largely from countries such as Canada and Russia. Farmers’ organisations allege that their large-scale import depresses domestic prices, undermining the government’s MSP policy for pulses.
The case will now proceed after the Centre files its response to the Supreme Court’s notice.
