Protesting Farmers Are Meeting Justice Nawab Singh Committee Today, Punjab Govt Tells Supreme Court

The Supreme Court today (January 6) adjourned the hearing of the farmers' protest matter after being informed by the State of Punjab that the protesting farmers have been persuaded to meet Justice (Retired) Nawab Singh, the Chairperson of the High-Powered Committee constituted to negotiate with the protesters.Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, for the State of Punjab, informed a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh that the meeting was taking place at 3 PM today, and hoped that a "breakthrough" would happen. "Somehow, we have been able to persuade the protesting people to meet Justice Nawab Singh at 3 PM today. We are hopeful that there would be a breakthrough," Sibal informed. It may be noted that earlier, the farmers' organisation Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which is the forefront of of the protests, had refused to meet the panel, which was constituted by the Supreme Court in September last year. Sibal requested the bench- which is considering a contempt petition filed against the Punjab officials for not shifting farmers' leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal(who has been on a hunger strike) to hospital- to adjourn the hearing.The bench accordingly posted the matter to Friday. Last week, the bench had expressed displeasure with the State for not complying with the direction to take Dallewal to hospital. The bench reiterated that its order was not to break the fast of Dallewal and clarified that he can continue his hunger strike under medical supervision.Dallewal has been on fast-unto-death since November 26 at the Khanauri border, demanding the Union Government to accept farmers' demands including a statutory guarantee for Minimum Support Price for crops. Apart from being a cancer patient, Dallewal suffers from age-related ailments.Reportedly, due to his deteriorating health, he is now unable to take water. It is been said that even if he breaks his now 41 days fast, he will not be able to recover fully. On last hearing, the Court clarified that it had not directed that Dallewal break his fast but that he simply should be shifted to the hospital so that his health could be properly monitored. But it has been pointed out to the Court that the farmers' leader has refused any medical intervention despite the mobilisation of negotiators by the Punjab Government to diffuse the situation unless the Central Government intervenes. The Court was hearing an SLP filed by the Haryana Government in the State's plea against Punjab and Haryana High Court's direction to unblock the Shambhu Border between the States of Punjab and Haryana.The border was closed in February 2024 due to farmers' protests, raising demands such as a statutory guarantee for the Minimum Support Price for crops. In September last year, the Court constituted a High-Powered Committee to negotiate with the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border between the States of Punjab and Haryana.During the hearing of this plea, the issue of Dallewal's medical aid, wherein on December 20, an order was issued directing the Punjab State authorities could either shift Dallewal to the makeshift hospital (temporary hospital, which is said to have been set up at a distance of 700 meters from the site) or to any other well-equipped Hospital. Against the non-compliance of this order, a contempt petition was filed, which was heard by a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia.The matter was taken up on three occasions, wherein the Court directed the Chief Secretary of Punjab and Director General of Police of Punjab to make all arrangements to shift Dallewal to the hospital. The authorities then filed a compliance report stating that farmers are resisting the shifting of Dallewal to a hospital and in view of the possibility of "physical jostling" and "collateral damage of lives and property," the farmers' leader has been provided with medical support onsite of the protest.On December 31, the Court was informed that negotiators and intervenors were sent to the protest site to convince the farmers to allow the shifting of Dallewal and the farmers have proposed that if the Centre intervenes, Dallewal is ready to take medical aid.It should be noted that while the Punjab Government has taken a stand that the Union's intervention might help in diffusing the situation at hand, the Union has taken a contrary stand that their intervention will deteriorate the situation further. On December 28, the Court ordered the Union to provide all logistic support, if sought by the Punjab Government, to pacify the situation.Case Details: LABH SINGH v. K A P SINHA AND ANR. CONMT.PET.(C) No. 930-933/2024 in SLP(C) No. 6950-6953/2024;; STATE OF HARYANA AND ANR. v. UDAY PRATAP SINGH AND ORS, SLP(C) No. 6950-6953/2024; THE STATE OF HARYANA AND ANR. v. UDAY PRATAP SINGH AND ORS. SLP(C) No. 15407-15410/2024 [Shambhu border blockade] Click Here To Read/Download Order

Protesting Farmers Are Meeting Justice Nawab Singh Committee Today, Punjab Govt Tells Supreme Court

Gursimran Kaur Bakshi

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