SC ends daily ₹2 Crore exploitation of garlic farmers in Madhya Pradesh

By Prateeksha Thakur | 21/04/2025 | Categories: India

(pic : iStock) Garlic to no longer be sold as a fruit or vegetable in mandis, says Supreme Court, Illegal commission fees on garlic sales scrapped after 19-year legal battle.

New Delhi, April 21, 2025

In a major decision that could change how farm trade works in India, the Supreme Court has ruled that garlic is not to be treated as a fruit or vegetable under mandi rules. This ruling puts an end to a system that farmers say led to daily losses of nearly ₹2 crore in Madhya Pradesh. The court also declared it illegal for commission agents to charge fees on garlic sales.

The decision marks the end of a 19-year legal fight led by farmer and trader Mukesh Somani, who took on the mandi system after seeing how garlic farmers were being unfairly charged.

What the Court said

The Supreme Court canceled a 2015 order by the Madhya Pradesh Mandi Board, which said garlic should be auctioned like fruits and vegetables—something that allowed middlemen to collect large commissions from farmers.

The court clearly said: “Garlic falls under the category of condiment spices, not fruits or vegetables. Selling it like fruits or vegetables and charging commission is illegal.”

With this, the commission agent (aadat) system for garlic has been struck down across the state. Farmers claim this move will stop the unfair collection of around ₹2 crore every day that’s been going on for years.

This fight started in 2006, when Mukesh Somani noticed something strange: out of 258 mandis in Madhya Pradesh, 254 followed a direct government purchase model, but 4 still allowed commission agents to operate.

“It was a clear case of economic exploitation,” Somani said.

With support from lawyer Abhishek Tugnawat, the case went from the Madhya Pradesh High Court to the Supreme Court. In the final stage, senior advocate Dr. Harsh Pathak joined Tugnawat in arguing the case. Their combined efforts led to a ruling that many farmers see as a game-changer.

What Happens Next?

While the judgment ends daily commission charges on garlic, Somani is not stopping here. “This isn’t just a legal win. It’s about restoring the dignity of farmers.”

According to Somani: “This is not just a legal victory — it’s a restoration of the dignity of farmers. Now, our fight is to ensure that the illegal commission of around ₹20,000 crores, collected from garlic between 2016 and 2025, is returned to the farmers.”

Speaking after the verdict, somani said: “This is not just one person’s victory; it’s a victory of the entire farming community. Mukesh Somani and Abhishek Tugnawat have proved that if a farmer becomes aware and organized, the law will support them and even the system will be forced to bow.”

Somani added that he now wants to end the 5% commission currently charged on onion sales in Madhya Pradesh, to stop further exploitation of farmers.