Top court pulls up Punjab Govt for not conducting medical tests on Dallewal

The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Punjab Government for not conducting medical tests on farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal despite doctors attending to him saying that his condition was deteriorating.

Fasting leader faints, condition serious

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose indefinite fast entered the 24th day on Thursday, fell unconscious for around 10 minutes at the Khanauri protest site. His condition is stated to be serious.

“We first want him to be provided medical aid. Why is that priority being overlooked? We want to know about his health condition and all health parameters. That can only be known after he is subjected to certain tests. Nobody should take us for granted,” a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant said.

“You (Punjab Government) people are saying he is alright, not doctors… the doctors say he is refusing tests. You want civil/police officers to perform the duty of the doctors? How is a doctor able to tell that a person who is sitting there for the past 24 days on hunger strike… of the age of 73-75 years with serious ailments (is alright)...You bring that doctor who gives a guarantee that he is absolutely fine,” the Bench told Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh.

The Advocate General said despite initial resistance to medical help from farmers, senior officials of the state met Dallewal and medical experts were assisting him at the site. About 100-200 m away from the protest site, a place called “Haveli” had been converted into a hospital, he said. The court’s comments came after the Advocate General said Dallewal had refused medical aid/tests and since he was surrounded by thousands of farmers, any forced intervention to shift him could lead to a confrontation.

Taking objection to the Advocate General’s submission, the Bench said farmers had never entered into a physical confrontation and they had been agitating peacefully. “Tell your state machinery to be alive to its constitutional responsibilities. The farmers or their leaders have never entered into any physical confrontation. All these terminologies are concocted by your officers. They are sitting on a peaceful agitation,” Justice Kant said.

Asking the Punjab Government to look for alternative ways to provide him medical aid immediately, the Bench said, “Please convince him to go to a hospital for a week to take treatment and then resume his fast-unto-death. There are other leaders who can continue the protest.”

Citing the example of Irom Sharmila of Manipur, the Bench suggested that Dallewal could continue his protest and fast-unto-death under medical supervision and posted the matter for further hearing on Friday at 12.30 pm.

Dallewal has been on a fast-unto-death since November 26.