Today, On 15th January, The Supreme Court asked the Punjab government to provide health reports of Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a farmer leader on an indefinite hunger strike. Dallewal, who began his protest on November 26, 2024, has refused medical assistance. The Punjab government is in talks with protesting farmers to find a resolution. Authorities are also looking to move him to a nearby makeshift hospital for better care.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court requested the Punjab government to provide health reports for farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on an indefinite fast, so they can be reviewed by the medical board at AIIMS.
A bench consisting of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh expressed concern over how a person fasting for nearly 50 days could show improving health parameters. They instructed the chief secretary of the Punjab government to submit Dallewal’s test reports to the apex court registrar within the day.
The Court ordered the registrar to forward these reports to the AIIMS director for evaluation by the medical board. The justices also acknowledged the Punjab government’s statement that discussions are ongoing with the protesting farmers, with hopes for a resolution.
This prompted a strong reaction from the bench, which included Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh. Justice Kant questioned how the farmer leader’s vital signs could improve after a 49-day hunger strike.
He asked,
“Where are the latest parameters? Last time, some officers submitted an affidavit stating his condition is deteriorating; now you’re saying his parameters are improving? How can that happen?”
He continued,
“On one hand, you’re saying your doctors are available 24/7 and your medical team is present. How are the parameters improving? The individual we are discussing seems to be under peer pressure; he will not dispute . After 49 days on hunger strike, how can his parameters be improving?”
In response, Mr. Sibal quickly clarified that Mr. Dallewal’s parameters are “stable,” noting that this information was based on a report from a medical board established to monitor the farmer leader’s condition.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Punjab government, noted that some progress had been made regarding Dallewal’s transfer to a makeshift hospital, which has been established just 10 meters from the protest site. Sibal also mentioned that central government representatives are meeting with the protesting farmers.
On January 6, the elderly farmer leader met with a panel appointed by the Supreme Court after the Punjab government indicated that the protesting farmers had agreed to meet Justice (retd) Nawab Singh, who chairs the committee.
Dallewal, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) (non-political), began his indefinite hunger strike on November 26, 2024, and has declined medical assistance from the Punjab government, resulting in a deterioration of his health. Farmers, under the banners of SKM and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been stationed at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 of last year, after their march to Delhi was halted by security forces.
On December 12, 2024, Dallewal wrote to various religious leaders, urging the Central government to meet farmers’ demands, including the legal guarantee of MSP. Farmer leaders have expressed concern over Dallewal’s health, stating that “his condition was deteriorating after 48 days of fasting.”
On January 6, the elderly farmer leader met with the Supreme Court-appointed panel after the Punjab government reported that the protesting farmers were encouraged to meet with Justice (retd) Nawab Singh, who chairs the committee. Dallewal, who is the convener of the non-political Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), began his indefinite hunger strike on November 26, 2024, and has refused medical assistance from the Punjab government.
Farmers associated with the SKM and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 last year, after their march to Delhi was stayed by security forces.
On December 20, the Supreme Court placed the responsibility on Punjab government officials and doctors to decide on Dallewal’s hospitalisation. The court noted that he could be moved to a makeshift hospital located within 700 metres of the protest site at the Khanauri border.
In September 2024, the Supreme Court established a committee aimed at resolving the issues faced by the protesting farmers. The committee’s initial report highlighted that Farmers are facing problems like low crop production, increasing expenses, debts, and a poor system for selling their produce.
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 [Shambhu border blockade]