Supreme Court offers direct access after Punjab says farmers refusing talks
As Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal’s fast-unto-death agitation entered the 21st day, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Punjab Government to extend him immediate medical aid, saying it will have serious repercussions if something untoward happened to him.
“He needs to be healthy to agitate… As an elected government and a constitutional organ, you would not like to invite the blame that something happened to him… Even farmers should be concerned about saving his life. He’s their leader! You tell us something tomorrow. Do something swiftly,” a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant told Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh.
The Bench said saving Dallewal's life should be the priority and it should not be dependent on fulfilling farmers' demands. Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 to press for the acceptance of farmers’ demands.
The direction came after the Punjab Advocate General submitted that following the top court’s December 13 order, a detailed discussion was held with Dallewal but he refused to undergo medical tests. His vitals were fine, except the uric acid and as per doctors, indoor admission would be in his interest, he told the Bench.
As Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also said immediate medical aid should be the first priority at this juncture, the Bench – which also included Justice Ujjal Bhuyan – said, “Look at the serious repercussions. Entire state machinery will be blamed.”
“He (Dallewal) is a public personality… leader of masses. He represents their interest. Some sentiments he is carrying...there is peer pressure also...the state (of Punjab) needs to do something, there can’t be leniency… You have to tackle the situation,” the Bench said.
The directions should be conveyed to the Punjab Chief Secretary and the state GDP, said the Bench – which had on December 13 asked the Punjab government and the Centre to take immediate steps to ensure that Dallewal’s life was not in danger.
“It’s the bounden duty of the Punjab government and the Union of India 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,” the Bench had said on last Friday.
On Wednesday, the top court made it clear that its doors were always open for suggestions and demands from farmers.
The assurance from the Bench came after the Punjab Advocate General said the farmers have refused to interact with the SC-appointed high-powered committee which had invited them on December 17. Singh suggested that the farmers could be allowed to submit their demands directly to the court.
“We clarify that the court’s doors are always open to any suggestion or demand by farmers directly or through their authorised representative,” Justice Kant said.
As farmers continued to protest at Shambhu Border since February, the Supreme Court had on September 2 set up a multi-member high-powered committee headed by Justice Nawab Singh – a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court -- to talk to them to amicably resolve their grievances.
On Friday, the Bench had said Justice Singh was on a foreign trip and the work of the committee will pick up after his return.
Farmers have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024 after they were stopped by security forces. Besides a legal guarantee for MSP, they were demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, farm debt waiver, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of farmers who died during the 2020-21 agitation.
Acknowledging the farmers’ right to peaceful protests, the Bench had on December 2 cautioned them against disrupting public life. “In a democratic setup, you can engage in peaceful protests but do not cause inconvenience to people. You all know that the Khanauri border is a lifeline for Punjab. We are not commenting on whether the protest is right or wrong,” Justice Kant had said.
