After Allahabad High Court intervention, State officials pay from their pockets to save dairy farmer

The Allahabad High Court’s recent call for a sympathetic approach in the case of a dairy farmer, who was facing a loan recovery of over ₹2 Lakh from the bank, resulted in a unique display of human compassion and philanthropy [Mushir Ahmad vs. State of UP].A senior bureaucrat and other officials of his department in Uttar Pradesh government came to the rescue of the farmer, one Mushir Ahmad, and paid the loan from their own pockets, to save him from penury.Ahmad was facing recovery of ₹2,16,115 against a loan of ₹80,000 he had taken in 2008 for the purpose of a dairy. Though he had paid ₹73,500 and an amount of only ₹6,500 remained, the interest on the amount had ballooned to ₹2,16,115..In his petition for relief, he told the High Court that he did not have any means of livelihood and was thus, unable to pay the amount.When the matter was heard by Justice Abdul Moin last month, the Court asked the State counsel to find out whether any assistance could be extended to Ahmad under any debt relief scheme..On February 23, the Court was told that out of the three schemes issued by the government, two were not applicable to Ahmad’s and the third one had not been adopted by the bank.Taking note of the seriousness of the issue, the Court then referred the matter to the Principal Secretary (Cooperative) to consider how the State can help out the farmer. While considering Ahmad’s annual income of ₹52,000 and the fact that his land was mortgaged with the bank, the Court on March 18 remarked that recovery of the amount would “literally wipe” him out for next five years and if the land is taken, he would have no source of income left..However, the Court’s fears were allayed on March 19 when it was informed that a unique solution had come about in the case to save Ahmad from becoming penniless.While the Principal Secretary (Co-operative) provided a personal cheque of ₹1,16, 150 to Ahmad, the other employees of the co-operative department gave of cheque for the rest of ₹1 lakh, the Court was told. It was also submitted that the officer and other employees had taken the action after seeing Ahmad’s plight as was recorded by the Court on March 18.“The Court acknowledges the empathy as has been expressed by the both Principal Secretary (Co-operative) as well as the employees of the department,” Justice Moin said in the March 19 order..The Court on March 22 was told that cheques were deposited in Ahmad’s account. However, the counsel representing the bank said the money had not yet come in his loan account.The matter is next listed on April 2. The counsel representing the bank has been asked to inform the Court about the final settlement. Advocate Mukesh Kumar Shukla represented the petitionerChief Standing Counsel Deep Sikha and Additional Chief Standing Counsel Saharsh Srivastava represented the StateAdvocate Sanjeev Singh represented the bank[Read Order].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.