Farm Laws Repeal Act 2021 gets Presidential assent [Read Gazette Notification]

The Farm Laws Repeal Act 2021, which aims to repeal the three contentious farm laws, received Presidential assent on November 30.

The gazette notification published in this regard provides the objective of the Act, which reads:

"An Act to repeal the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 and to amend the Essential Commodities Act, 1955."

On November 29, the Lok Sabha had passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill tabled by Union Minister of Agriculture Narendra Tomar. The Bill was passed in the Lower House within eight minutes of its introduction, without any discussion and via voice vote.

On the very same day, the Bill was similarly passed in the Rajya Sabha.

Prior to the introduction of the Repeal Bill 2021, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan had allowed the leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to speak for a few minutes.

"Over 700 deaths have taken place during agitation against these laws. Government has taken back these laws in view of the upcoming elections," Kharge stated.

The Central government on December 1 informed Parliament that it has no records about the deaths of farmers who were protesting outside Delhi against the three contentious farm laws.

"The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has no records in the matter of deaths and hence the question of compensation does not arise," Tomar had informed Parliament in response to a parliamentary question.

The decision to withdraw the three contentious farm laws was first announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a special address to the nation on November 19.

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting against the laws for more than a year at Delhi's borders.

On January 12, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the 3 farm laws. The apex court had ordered the formation of a committee to hear all parties and stakeholders, and submit a report to the Court on the same. The Committee had, subsequently, submitted its report in March.

The Court has, however, not heard the matter since. Besides petitions challenging the laws, there are many petitions before the top court against farmers blockading the roads at Delhi's borders.

[READ THE GAZETTE NOTIFICATION]