India, May 24 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has disposed of two public interest litigations (PILs) challenging free or subsidised power to rich farmers in the states of Punjab and Haryana.

The PILs filed in 2017 with respect to Punjab and in 2018 on a somewhat similar policy in Haryana had sought the exclusion of rich and affluent farmers from such subsidy schemes.

"The issue of whether to provide a subsidy for free power/electricity to the tubewells of farmers or to exclude rich farmers from availing such subsidies etc. lies within the exclusive domain of policy decisions of the respective states. This Court, thus refrains from entering into the field of policy making, which falls within the exclusive domain of the Executive," t...