Garlic removed from fruits & vegetables category; commission agent practice declared illegal
New Delhi, April 21, 2025:
Big relief for farmers of Madhya Pradesh. In a historic judgment today, the Hon’ble Supreme Court clarified that treating garlic as a fruit or vegetable and charging commission (aadat) on it is completely illegal. This verdict is the result of a 19-year-long battle and unwavering belief in justice by one man, Mr. Mukesh Somani, who is both a farmer and a trader.
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Key Highlights of the Verdict:
- The order by the Madhya Pradesh Mandi Board dated 13.02.2015, which directed garlic to be auctioned like fruits and vegetables, has been nullified by the Supreme Court.
- The Court stated: “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 decision, the illegal commission of about ₹2 crores per day, being collected from farmers for the last 9 years, has now been completely stopped.
In 2006, Mr. Mukesh Somani observed that out of the 258 mandis (agricultural markets) in Madhya Pradesh, only 4 mandis were following the commission agent system, while the other 254 were operating under a direct government purchase system. Realizing this as economic exploitation of farmers, he immediately began a legal battle against the injustice.
From the very beginning, Advocate Mr. Abhishek Tugnawat stood firmly by his side, offering constant legal support.
The case traveled through the Madhya Pradesh High Court and eventually reached the Supreme Court. There, senior advocate Dr. Harsh Pathak, along with Mr. Abhishek Tugnawat, fought the case, which finally led to a Supreme Court ruling freeing farmers in Madhya Pradesh from illegal commission charges by middlemen.
Mr. Mukesh Somani stated: “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.”
He also announced that his next goal is to abolish the 5% commission currently levied on onions in Madhya Pradesh, to ensure no further exploitation of farmers.
“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.”
