ORAL JUDGMENT

(Per: HONOURABLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE)

Date : 18-04-2023 The petitioner, motivated by public interest, has filed the above writ petition to enable insurance benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). According to the petitioner, under the Scheme of PMFBY introduced by the Central Government, the loans taken by the farmers were insured against rain, drought and other natural calamities. The Scheme is applicable to Kharif and Rabi crop farmers.

2. It is stated that in the year 2016, 20143 farmers took loans from the Punjab National Bank, Rahatpur Branch, Begusarai and the loans were insured with the 4th Respondent-Insurance Company. However, out of 2143 claims made, only 802 were disbursed the compensation. The petitioner is concerned with the balance 1341 farmers, who were not given the insurance benefits, despite their crops having been destroyed by natural calamities.

3. The learned counsel for the respondent, at the outset, pointed out that no writ will lie against a private limited company and that in any event, the claims raised are of individual loanees, who have also insured their crops, which have to be agitated individually and not in a public inter