The bench further remarked that Dallewal is a true farmer leader who does not have any political motives.
New Delhi, March 28: Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was on an indefinite hunger strike for farmers’ demands, has now ended his fast. On Friday morning, he accepted water and broke his hunger strike, the Punjab government informed the Supreme Court.
A Supreme Court bench, consisting of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, was given this information by Punjab’s Advocate General, Gurminder Singh.
He also told the court that farmers protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu borders have been dispersed, and all blocked roads and highways have been reopened.
The Supreme Court appreciated the role of Dallewal, stating, “We know some people did not want settlement of grievances of farmers. We are not sitting in an ivory tower. We know everything.”
The bench further remarked that Dallewal is a true farmer leader who does not have any political motives.
The court then directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to submit a status report on the present situation in the protest areas. It also instructed the high-powered committee, led by a former high court judge, to file a supplementary report addressing the grievances of the farmers.
Additionally, the Supreme Court withdrew contempt proceedings against Punjab’s Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police. This decision came after they failed to comply with an earlier court order regarding providing medical aid to Dallewal.
Earlier, on March 19, several farmer leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, were reportedly detained in Mohali. This happened when they were returning from a meeting with a central delegation. On the same day, Punjab Police cleared the protest sites at Shambhu and Khanauri, where farmers had been protesting for over a year.
The Punjab police stated that they had dismantled all temporary structures, removed stages, and cleared trolleys and vehicles stationed by the protesting farmers. Farmers, mainly under the banners of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, had been camped at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13, 2023. Their march to Delhi was halted by security forces, leading to the prolonged protest at these locations.
Dallewal’s hunger strike, which commenced on November 26, is part of a broader movement demanding the legalization of Minimum Support Price (MSP) and other agricultural reforms. Farmers, under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border since February, causing significant disruptions to public movement and economic activities.
The Supreme Court previously instructed Dallewal to ensure that the ongoing protest does not obstruct highways or inconvenience the public. Notably, Dallewal was allegedly detained illegally at the protest site at the Khanauri border near Delhi. After being admitted to a hospital in Ludhiana, he approached the Supreme Court, claiming his admission was forced and amounted to detention.
Case Title: LABH SINGH v. K A P SINHA AND ANR. CONMT.PET.(C) No. 930-933/2024 in SLP(C) No. 6950-6953/2024;; STATE OF HARYANA AND ANR. v. UDAY PRATAP SINGH AND ORS, SLP(C) No. 6950-6953/2024; THE STATE OF HARYANA AND ANR. v. UDAY PRATAP SINGH AND ORS. SLP(C) No. 15407-15410/2024
