New Delhi, Apr 7: The Supreme Court today refused to entertain the PIL questioning the decision of the Central Government to waive off farmers' loans to the tune of about Rs 60,000 crores. Petitioner Manohar Lal Sharma contended before a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran that the concession given by the Government should be confined only to landless farmers who have taken loans from the banks and not to the big land owners.

Regarding the problem of farmers who have taken loan from private financers, the apex court told the petitioners that such a policy would create chaos and encourage unscrupulous money-lenders, who would stake false claim to cheat the Government, and that could not be permitted.

The apex court told Mr Sharma, who was an advocate, that if he has any scheme for the welfare of the farmers, he should suggest the same to the Government.The petitioner finally sought the permission from the court to withdraw his petition, which permitted him for the same, dismissing it.

In the election year, the Centre had announced some sops for farmers that their loans, which they have taken from nationalised banks and other government agencies, would be waived off, subject to the condition that their land holdings were not more that two hectares.

The Government had also assured them that even the loans from private money-lenders, would also be paid by the Government within next four years.

UNI