Close X
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
ADVT 
India

PepsiCo Withdraws Two More Lawsuits Against Farmers

Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 May, 2019 10:00 PM

    Food and beverages giant PepsiCo India on Friday withdrew the two lawsuits it had filed against nine Gujarat farmers for allegedly growing a variety of potato on which it claimed exclusive rights. Anand Yagnik, the lawyer for the farmers, said there was no pending litigation after these withdrawals.


    A week earlier, PepsiCo had withdrawn its case at Deesa Commercial Court against two farmers hailing from Banaskantha district in the state.


    Now, the two remaining cases against nine farmers, comprising four of Sabarkantha and five from Arvalli, have been withdrawn by the MNC, Mr Yagnik said at a press conference here.


    In all, 11 farmers of Banaskantha, Sabarkantha and Arvalli districts were sued by PepsiCo in three different courts in Gujarat for alleged infringement of rights over the particular variety of potato.


    The multinational giant had sought damages ranging from Rs. 20 lakh to Rs. 1 crore from these farmers.


    While four farmers of Sabarkantha were sued in a commercial court in Ahmedabad, five farmers of Arvalli were sued in Modasa Commercial Court of that district.


    "Advocates appearing for PepsiCo on Friday informed both the courts today that the company wants to withdraw the cases unconditionally. PepsiCo's pleas have been approved by both the courts today. With this, all the three suits against farmers stand withdrawn and no case is pending now," Mr Yagnik said.


    The US-based firm had filed the suits against potato farmers for allegedly growing FC-5 variety of potato for which the company had claimed to have obtained Plant Variety Protection (PVP) rights.


    However, activists had claimed the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers'' Rights Authority Act, 2011 exempts farmers from PVP rights.


    In its statement after the withdrawal of cases Friday, PepsiCo said it was "compelled to take the judicial recourse" to protect its registered variety in order to "safeguard the larger interest of farmers".


    "PepsiCo India's submission in the court today is in sync with its publicly stated position... To safeguard the larger interest of farmers, PepsiCo India was compelled to take judicial recourse to protect its registered variety," it said.


    "PepsiCo from the very start had also offered an amicable settlement to farmers. After discussions with the government, the company has agreed to withdraw cases against farmers. We are relying on the said discussions to find a long term and an amicable resolution of all issues around seed protection" the statement added.


    Though all three cases have been withdrawn by the MNC, Mr Yagnik said farmers who were sued by PepsiCo now want an apology from the company for the harassment and bringing disrepute to them.


    "Farmers want an apology from PepsiCo. If the company does not tender an apology, we will send it a legal notice and will file a legal suit against the firm demanding a token compensation of Rs. 1," Mr Yagnik said

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid To Be Charged Soon In Sedition Case: Sources

    The three were arrested in 2016 on charges of sedition for allegedly organising an event in Jawaharlal Nehru University campus against the hanging of Parliament-attack mastermind Afzal Guru.

    Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid To Be Charged Soon In Sedition Case: Sources

    Indian-Origin Man Jailed For Drink-Drive Killing, Gets Reduced Sentence

    Jaynesh Chudasama, 29, admitted to driving at more than two-and-a-half times over the alcohol limit on January 26 evening, when the fatal collision occurred near a bus stop at Hayes in west London.  

    Indian-Origin Man Jailed For Drink-Drive Killing, Gets Reduced Sentence

    1984 Anti-Sikh Massacre: Delhi HC Dismisses Sajjan Kumar Plea For Time Till Jan 30 To Surrender

    Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, convicted of abetting five killings during the 1984 Sikh carnage, will have to turn himself in by December 31 after the Delhi High Court today rejected his plea for extra time to surrender.

    1984 Anti-Sikh Massacre: Delhi HC Dismisses Sajjan Kumar Plea For Time Till Jan 30 To Surrender

    Pakistan Rejects Kartarpur Land Swap Offer

    "Regarding Kartarpur, there is absolutely no question of any land swap," responded Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokespeson Mohammad Faisal today.

    Pakistan Rejects Kartarpur Land Swap Offer

    Man Kills Sister's Husband On Busy Road, Bystanders Shoot Videos

    Man Kills Sister's Husband On Busy Road, Bystanders Shoot Videos
    Enraged over their love marriage, a man killed his sister's husband on a busy main road in this Maharashtra town, shocking bystanders, police said on Thursday.

    Man Kills Sister's Husband On Busy Road, Bystanders Shoot Videos

    Now, Shop For Beauty Products, Home, Kitchen Essentials On Board Trains

    Now, Shop For Beauty Products, Home, Kitchen Essentials On Board Trains
    However, the contractor will not be allowed to sell any eatables, cigarettes, guthka or alcohol on board trains.

    Now, Shop For Beauty Products, Home, Kitchen Essentials On Board Trains