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Informist, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – Pulling up the Punjab government for not shifting Bhartiya Kisan Union Ekta Sidhupur's President Jagjit Singh Dallewal to a hospital, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that the state government's attitude was that there should not be any conciliation between protesting farmers and the government. The top court sought a compliance report from the state government on its steps to shift Dallewal to a hospital, and listed the case for hearing on Monday. Dallewal has been on a fast unto death since Nov. 26, seeking agricultural reforms.

 

The apex court said its direction to the state government to provide medical aid to Dallewal was not to break his fast. It said that there was a deliberate attempt in the media by officers of the Punjab government to give the impression that the apex court was exerting pressure on Dallewal to break his fast. "We just said let his health be taken care of and then his fast can go on. Shifting to hospital does not mean fast is broken...His life is precious as a farm leader. He is not aligned to any political ideologies, he is only taking the farmers' cause," said a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia.

 

Appearing for the Punjab government, Advocate General Gurminder Singh said Dallewal had said he would accept medical help subject to some intervention or talks by the Centre. "Have you ever told him that a committee is formed for this purpose? Don't make us say things.. Your attitude is that there should be no conciliation. That is the problem," the court said. The bench was referring to a committee formed by it in September to look into the issues raised by agitating farmers.

 

Further, the court said there were "people making irresponsible statements and we know the intentions". Some farm leaders were doing this, the apex court said, adding that such people's bona fides should be looked into. "Our officers are there on the ground. Give us some reasonable time. We are trying to work out a positive situation," Singh said. 

 

The apex court was hearing a contempt petition against Punjab's chief secretary for non-compliance with its order to provide medical aid to farmer leader Dallewall. Last month, the apex court had asked the Punjab government to take all measures to ensure Dallewal was shifted to a hospital, and file a compliance report on this. "Somebody's life at stake. You need to take it seriously. Medical aid has to be given, and the impression is that you are not following it," the court had observed.

 

A fresh petition has been filed by Gurinder Kaur Gill, a friend of Dallewal, seeking a statutory guarantee for minimum support price for all crops, and addressing of pending demands related to farmers' protests. The petitioner said that the Centre had made a promise to farmers, on the basis of which the protest was stopped, and so, the promise couldn't be taken back. The apex court said the court-appointed committee could examine all such matters.

 

The petitioner also said multiple committees had been formed, without substantive resolution. To this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, "Let us not undermine the authority of the court-appointed committee."

 

"Madam Gill, you can play a vital role. Please don't think of confrontation. We have a committee of former judges with roots in Punjab who are all learned fellows. Now that the committee is there, we cannot directly have a dialogue with the farmers," the apex court said.

 

Several farmers from Punjab began a march towards Delhi, pressing for various demands. In September, the apex court formed a committee to look into the issues raised by agitating farmers and cautioned them to stay away from political parties and promises that couldn't be implemented. The committee was to look into the modalities of resolving the issues raised by the agitating farmers, the court had said. The committee is set to hold further talks with agitating farmers on Friday.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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