On January 22, the Supreme Court put a stay in contempt plea against Punjab officials after noting that farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was on a hunger strike, was receiving medical treatment without breaking his fast.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday, 28th Feb, postponed the hearing on petitions related to the ongoing farmers’ protest. The decision came after the court observed that two rounds of discussions already taken place between the Central government and the protesting farmers.
The farmers have put forward several demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh noted that a third round of talks between the Centre and the farmers was scheduled for March 19.
Due to this, the court decided to take up the matter, including petitions seeking contempt action against Punjab government officials regarding medical aid provided to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, only after March 19.
During the hearing, Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh informed the bench that two state ministers had participated in the discussions with the farmers.
The Supreme Court acknowledged the efforts of the high-powered committee it had appointed to provide a platform for the farmers to express their concerns. The court also took on record the interim report submitted by the committee but decided to keep it confidential for the time being.
Additionally, the court fixed an honorarium for the chairman of the committee, Justice Nawab Singh, and other committee members. The apex court had constituted this committee in September 2024 with the objective of resolving the grievances of the protesting farmers amicably.
On January 22, the Supreme Court put on hold a contempt plea against Punjab officials after noting that farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was on a hunger strike, was receiving medical treatment without breaking his fast.
The bench also observed that representatives of the Central government had already met the protesting farmers and that another meeting was planned for February 14 in Chandigarh.
Earlier, on January 15, the Supreme Court had sought a health status report from the Punjab government on Dallewal’s condition. Dallewal, who is the convener of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), began his indefinite hunger strike on November 26, 2024. Initially, he refused medical assistance from the Punjab government, which led to a further deterioration in his health condition.
Farmers, under the banners of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been protesting at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, 2024. Their march to Delhi was halted by security forces, leading them to set up camps at the border areas.
Case Title:
STATE OF HARYANA AND ANR. v. UDAY PRATAP SINGH AND ORS, SLP(C) No. 6950-6953/2024; SLP(C) No. 15407-15410/2024
LABH SINGH v. K A P SINHA AND ANR. CONMT.PET.(C) No. 930-933/2024 in SLP(C) No. 6950-6953/2024
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