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Informist, Monday, Sep 2, 2024

 

--SC forms a committee to look into issues of agitating farmers 

--SC: Committee to look into modalities of resolving farmers' issues 

--SC: Punjab & Haryana HC to decide in 1 wk panel role in farmers issues 

--SC cautions agitating farmers to stay away from political parties 

--SC cautions farmers on promises from parties that can't be fulfilled 

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court today formed a committee to look into the issues of agitating farmers and cautioned them to stay away from political parties and promises that cannot be implemented. The committee shall look into the modalities of resolving the farmers' issues, said the court. The apex court asked the Punjab and Haryana High Court to frame issues within 1 wk which the committee will look into to resolve the farmers' protest and asked the governments of Punjab and Haryana for their suggestions on the same. 

 

The committee will be headed by former judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Nawab Singh. 

 

In the meantime, the high-powered committee should reach out to and request the agitating farmers to remove their tractors from the protesting places. "We hope the farmers will listen to the committee and vacate their vehicles from the border to provide huge relief to the general public after their genuine grievances are heard," said the Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan.

 

"We caution the farmers to stay away from political parties and any promises that cannot be implemented," said the apex court. The chief secretaries and director general of police of both the states will help the high court and consult the chairperson of the committee for the needful work. Further, the court asked the protestors to shift their agitations to alternate sites.

 

The top court was hearing a petition by the Haryana government against the Punjab and Haryana High Court's Jul 10 order, directing the state government to open the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border within a week. The border had been closed since February when several farmers from Punjab began their march towards Delhi for various demands, including one for a legal guarantee for minimum support price for all crops, based on the formula recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Commission.

 

On Jul 24, the apex court had asked the governments of Punjab and Haryana to suggest some names for the committee, which could comprise eminent persons who could reach out to farmers and other stakeholders to find a viable solution to their demands. Today, the top court said that the names suggested by the states were persons of high integrity, and having experience in agriculture.

 

The top court said that there was a sizeable population of agricultural communities in the two states that belong to marginalised section and living below the poverty line, and deserves empathy. Hence, the top court said that it felt that a neutral committee should be constituted to look into their issues.

 

In an earlier hearing, the apex court had observed that there appeared to be a trust deficit between the government and protesting farmers. "Have you taken any initiative to negotiate with the farmers? Your ministers might go to the farmers without realising the local issues. There is a trust deficit. Why don't you have some neutral umpires? There have to be confidence-building measures," said the top court.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

 

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