Ensure fasting Dallewal’s life not in danger, provide aid, SC tells Punjab

Amid deteriorating health of Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death for the last 17 days, the Supreme Court on Friday asked the Punjab Government and the Centre to take immediate steps to ensure his life was not in danger.

Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border since November 26 to press for farmers’ demands. “He (Dallewal) must be provided medical aid immediately without forcing him to break his fast... Please have a direct dialogue. His life is more precious than agitations. He is providing leadership... other farmers should support you…” a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant told Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

“It’s the bounden duty of the Punjab Government and the Centre to take all peaceful measures to provide adequate, immediate medical aid to Dallewal without forcing him to break his fast, unless it is imperative to save his life,” Justice Kant said.

Directing the representatives of the Punjab Government and the Centre to immediately meet Dallewal and other farmer leaders to convince them about the need to provide him with immediate medical aid, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing on December 17.

The direction came after a lawyer drew the court’s attention to the deteriorating health of Dallewal and urged it to issue some direction to ensure that he was safe.

The top court asked the agitating farmers to adopt the Gandhian way of protest and temporarily suspend their protest or shift from highways. It asked the high-powered panel appointed by it to meet agitating farmers to persuade them to temporarily suspend their protest or shift from highways.

The Bench expressed satisfaction over the fact that the Punjab Government authorities had access to Dallewal despite the farmer leader being surrounded by more than 2,000 farmers.

While agreeing to the suggestion given by the Bench, the Punjab Advocate General said there should not be any direction to shift the farmer leader to any specific hospital as it might involve the use of force that could potentially create problems. He said the state would do the needful to deal with the situation. Singh, however, urged the top court to remove the blockade, saying, “Finances of the state are suffering since the main highway is blocked.” Mehta also agreed that Dallewal's health should be the first priority for “all of us”.