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.
NEW DELHI: 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.
Following this request, the bench decided to adjourn the case until Friday.
On the previous hearing, the Court had expressed its displeasure with the Punjab government for not following the order to transfer Dallewal to a hospital. The Court made it clear that the order was not to end Dallewal’s hunger strike but to ensure his health was monitored by medical professionals. The bench also clarified that Dallewal could continue his hunger strike under medical supervision.
Dallewal, who has been on a hunger strike since November 26, 2024, at the Khanauri border, has been demanding the Union Government address farmers’ issues, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. Dallewal, a cancer patient, also suffers from age-related health issues. Reports suggest that his health has deteriorated significantly, and he is now unable to even drink water. It is feared that even if he ends his 41-day fast, his health may not fully recover.
Despite the worsening health condition of Dallewal, the farmers’ leader has refused medical intervention unless the Central Government intervenes in the matter. The Punjab government has mobilized negotiators to resolve the situation, but these efforts have been unsuccessful so far. The Court had earlier directed that Dallewal be shifted to a hospital, and despite efforts by the Punjab government, the farmers resisted the move, fearing it could lead to violence or damage to property.
On December 31, 2024, the Court was informed that intermediaries had been sent to the protest site to convince the farmers to allow Dallewal to be moved to a hospital. The farmers reportedly agreed to allow medical assistance only if the Centre intervenes. In response, the Punjab government believes that the Union’s intervention could help resolve the situation, but the Union Government has opposed this, claiming that such involvement may escalate the problem.
The Supreme Court is also hearing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the Haryana Government, challenging a direction from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to unblock the Shambhu Border, which had been closed since February 2024 due to the protests. The protestors have been demanding, among other things, a statutory guarantee for MSP for crops. In response to the ongoing protests at the Shambhu border, the Court had formed the High-Powered Committee to negotiate with the farmers.
Apart from Justice Nawab Singh, the panel comprised former Haryana DGP B.S. Sandhu, agricultural analyst Devender Sharma, Prof Ranjit Singh Ghuman, agricultural economist Dr Sukhpal Singh, and Prof Baldev Raj Kamboj as a special invitee.
The issue of Dallewal’s health had earlier been raised when the Court issued a directive on December 20, 2024. It stated that Dallewal could either be taken to a temporary hospital set up 700 meters from the protest site or to another well-equipped hospital. However, the local authorities cited concerns about the safety of moving Dallewal due to the potential for violence, and as a result, he was being provided medical aid on-site at the protest location.
The Court had ordered the Union Government to assist the Punjab government with logistical support if required to handle the situation. However, the Union has expressed concerns that its involvement may worsen the situation. The Court made it clear that the intervention by the Centre should aim at bringing peace to the protestors and resolving the stand-off peacefully.
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]
