As many as 23 sugar factories from Maharashtra’s Nanded region have been given time till December 8 to pay up their fair and remunerative price (FRP) dues for the 2014-15 season.

The decision was taken following a hearing called by sugar commissioner Vipin Sharma in Pune on Friday.

The hearing was called as per directions of the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court. The high court gave this direction while hearing a PIL filed by farmer organisation Swabhimani Shetkari leader Prahlad Ingole.

In his petition, Ingole has referred to a provision of the Sugarcane Control Act of 1966, which talks about payment of interest to farmers in case the FRP is not paid within 14 days of purchase of cane. The interest as per the Act would be calculated at the rate of 15% per annum and the farmer would get the payment with interest.

The clause which is meant as a safety measure to ensure payments to cane growers has been rarely used.

Ingole had moved the the high court in January last year seeking payment of FRP and interest on it for the farmers. The court, in its order of August 2015, has asked the sugar commissioner to solve the matter within 12 weeks, which ends on November 30. The commissioner has held three hearings on the matter till date.