Today, On 24th July, The Supreme Court highlighted a trust deficit between protesting farmers and the central government, suggesting the formation of an independent committee. The court addressing a petition by the Haryana government challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s recent order to reopen the Shambhu border, which links Punjab and Haryana.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, On Wednesday, urged the Central government to actively engage with farmers planning to march to Delhi to advocate for their demands.
The Bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta, and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to consider forming an independent committee.
Read Also: Patna Civil Court Tragedy: Lawyer Killed, 2 Others Injured in Transformer Explosion
This committee should include eminent individuals capable of engaging with farmers and other stakeholders to devise a fair and practical solution to their concerns.
The Court stated,
“You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending Ministers from here and despite their best intentions there is trust deficit. They will think you are only talking about self-interests and ignoring local issues. Why don’t you send a neutral umpire?”
The Court further suggested that the states of Punjab and Haryana could propose names for inclusion in the committee.
The Court noted in its order,
“We have impressed upon them to have instructions constitution of some independent committee comprising such eminent persons who can reach out to farmers and other stakeholders in order to find out viable solutions to their demands that can be fair, just, and in the interests of one and all,”
This directive issued while hearing the Haryana government’s petition challenging a recent order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to reopen the Shambhu border, a key connector between Punjab and Haryana. The Haryana government closed this border to prevent protesters from advancing towards Delhi.
The Supreme Court also commented that the state could not keep the highway blocked indefinitely.
Justice Bhuyan remarked,
“Of course, they (farmers) also cannot protest by JCBs.”
Solicitor General Mehta expressed concerns about security, stating,
“JCBs are converted into virtual war tanks! I am saying this with a sense of responsibility. Armoured vehicles we have photographs.”
Punjab’s Advocate General, Gurminder Singh, acknowledged Haryana’s right to regulate movement but highlighted the economic repercussions of the highway blockade on Punjab.
Singh argued,
“They are well within their rights to regulate. But highway blockade is resulting in huge ramifications for Punjab economically,”
The Court emphasized the need to avoid conflict between Punjab and Haryana.
It remarked,
“We are proposing a committee to reach out to farmers with the consensus of State and Union. To talk to them, get their viewpoints, know and tell them where they are right and wrong,”
In its order, the Court instructed both Punjab and Haryana to discuss and present a phased plan for removing the barricades to minimize public inconvenience.
Read Also: Supreme Court: Transfer of ‘Farmers Protest Case’ to Punjab and Haryana High Court
Justice Kant said,
“Let us not flare up the situation. We may issue guidelines,”
The Court also asked the two states to maintain the status quo at the Shambhu border to prevent any escalation.