The Supreme Court has pulled up Tamil Nadu government over farmers’ suicides and said it cannot leave the poverty-struck agriculturalists at the mercy of their fate.

A bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra yesterday issued notice to the state government and sought its response within two weeks on the plea filed by Tamil Nadu-based NGO.

The bench said a government cannot be allowed to be insensitive towards the plight of the drought-hit farmers who commit suicide and the state must take necessary steps to grant relief to them.

The bench also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and M M Shantanagoudar also asked the government to come up with certain schemes and measures before it.

The order came in the backdrop of protests by drought-hit farmers in the national capital demanding loan waiver and drought-relief package.

The farmers from the southern state have been demanding a drought relief package of Rs 40,000 crore, farm loan waiver and setting up of Cauvery Management Board by the Centre.