The committee, led by retired Punjab & Haryana High Court judge Justice Nawab Singh, approached Dallewal with concerns about his health.
NEW DELHI: In the ongoing farmers’ protest continued on Monday (6th Jan) as a committee formed by the Supreme Court met with Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a fasting farmer leader. Dallewal, who is in his 42nd day of a hunger strike, rejected medical help.
The committee, led by retired Punjab & Haryana High Court judge Justice Nawab Singh, approached Dallewal with concerns about his health.
Justice Singh told him, “(Supreme Court Judge Justice Surya Kant) is worried about your health. On every date of hearing, he keeps issuing directions to ensure your good health.”
However, Dallewal, who is protesting at the Khanauri border between Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal holds talks with SC committee, refuses medical aid, responded that the committee should ask the Supreme Court to direct the Central Government to take action.
He said, “I respect Justice Surya Kant but how do I ask him why he does not give any direction to the Centre, when our issue is to be sorted by Centre? When the Punjab Advocate General (AG) asks him to direct the Centre, then Surya Kant ji does not listen. The Union Minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) says if the SC tells them, they will comply with orders. If SC is not ready to give this direction to the Centre, then we do not have hope from anywhere.”
Dallewal emphasized that he would end his fast if the government accepted the demands of farmers protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points.
He insisted, “I need only one thing: That the government should agree to farmers’ demands, which were promises made by the government. Promises should be fulfilled. If they fulfil our demands, then I will not need medical help. I will break my fast.”
The protest leader’s fast-unto-death entered its 42nd day on Monday, and the situation remains tense as the protests, under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have continued since February 13, 2024. This was after their attempt to march to Delhi was blocked by security forces. Dallewal began his fast on November 26, 2024.
The Supreme Court was informed by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Punjab government, that the farmers had agreed to meet with the court’s committee.
This committee, which aims to resolve the farmers’ grievances, includes former DGP BS Sandhu, economist RS Ghuman, agriculture expert Devinder Sharma, and Sukhpal Singh, chairperson of the Punjab Farmers’ Commission.
Sibal told the Supreme Court, “Somehow, we have been able to persuade the protesting people to meet Justice (retd) Nawab Singh (who heads the court-appointed panel) at 3 pm today. We are hopeful that there would be a breakthrough.”
The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing, setting January 10 as the next date to review the situation. The court had formed this committee in September 2024 to find an amicable solution to the farmers’ concerns.
Despite his declining health, Dallewal remained resolute, telling the panel on Monday, “42 days have passed but I am confident nothing will happen to me. God is with me. I do not require any medical help.”
On the issue of his health, the Supreme Court had previously directed that Dallewal be moved to a hospital if necessary, as he is a cancer patient with other health complications. However, the Punjab government’s actions in complying with this order were criticized by the Supreme Court.
In response to a contempt petition filed on December 28, 2024, regarding the Punjab government’s failure to act, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s efforts.
The court remarked that the state’s inaction was “tantamount to abetting suicide.”
The court also criticized the Punjab government for its attitude towards reconciliation. On January 2, 2025, the Supreme Court pointed out that the state’s officials were spreading the wrong impression that the court was trying to persuade Dallewal to end his fast. Furthermore, the court fixed January 6 for another review of the state’s actions in complying with its orders.
The farmers’ protest has drawn widespread attention, with the government urged to fulfill the promises made to the farmers, primarily concerning the legal guarantee of minimum support prices (MSP) for crops. The outcome of this ongoing standoff rests on the government’s response to the farmers’ demands.
On January 6, 2025, the Supreme Court of India adjourned the hearing of a case concerning the ongoing farmers’ protests after receiving an update from the Punjab government. It was informed that the protesting farmers had been persuaded to meet Justice (Retired) Nawab Singh, the Chairperson of the High-Powered Committee formed to negotiate with the farmers.
A bench led by Justice Surya Kant adjourned the hearing to Friday (January 10, 2025), expressing hope that “better sense prevails upon everyone.” The bench mentioned that the committee would likely submit a report on the developments from the meeting.
On January 2, 2025, Justice Surya Kant clarified that the efforts to hospitalize farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal were not intended to undermine his hunger strike. He criticized the Punjab government and other farmers’ leaders for deliberately spreading such a narrative in the media.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyyan, his fellow judge on the bench, separately questioned the Centre’s continued reluctance to issue a statement confirming that its “doors are open” to addressing the “genuine grievances” of the protesting farmers.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Punjab government, told the bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh that a meeting between the farmers and Justice Nawab Singh was scheduled for 3 PM on the same day. He expressed hope that this meeting would lead to a “breakthrough.”
He said, “Somehow, we have been able to persuade the protesting people to meet Justice Nawab Singh at 3 PM today. We are hopeful that there would be a breakthrough.” This meeting comes after the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the leading farmers’ organization, had previously refused to meet the committee, which the Supreme Court had set up in September 2024.
During the hearing, Sibal also requested the bench, which was considering a contempt petition against Punjab officials, to adjourn the hearing. The petition was filed because the authorities had failed to shift Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a key farmers’ leader who had been on a hunger strike, to a hospital.
Case Details:
- 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 [Shambhu border blockade]
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