Today(on 22nd August),The Supreme Court announced plans to create a multi-member committee to address and resolve farmers’ grievances. The committee aims for a lasting solution to the ongoing protests. The case will be reviewed again on September 2 for further proceedings.
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NEW DELHI: Today(on 22nd August), the Supreme Court announced its intention to form a multi-member committee. This committee will work towards achieving a “for all times” resolution of the grievances expressed by the farmers, who have been protesting for months. The bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta, and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, emphasized the importance of addressing these issues amicably and announced that the matter would be revisited on September 2 for further proceedings.
The court specifically directed the governments of Punjab and Haryana to prepare and submit a list of tentative issues that concern the farmers, which will then be addressed by the newly formed committee. This step is seen as a crucial move to bring lasting peace and understanding between the protesting farmers and the government authorities.
In response to the Supreme Court’s previous order on August 12, the Punjab government reported that they had engaged in discussions with the protesting farmers. During this meeting, the farmers had agreed to partially reopen the blocked highway, which had been a major point of contention. This decision was in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive, showing progress towards easing the ongoing tensions.
The bench reiterated the importance of continued dialogue, urging the Punjab and Haryana governments to maintain open channels of communication with the farmers. The court stressed the need to “keep engaging with protesting farmers and persuade them to remove their tractors and trollies from the highway.” This encouragement to clear the roads is part of a broader effort to restore normalcy in the region, particularly around the Shambhu border where the protests have been most intense.
On August 12, the Supreme Court had made it clear that public highways are not to be used as “parking space,” underscoring the need for the protesters to vacate the roads. The Punjab government was instructed to persuade the farmers protesting at the Shambhu border to remove their vehicles, which have been causing significant disruptions to traffic and public life.
The ongoing protests have their roots in a dispute that began earlier this year. The Haryana government, responding to an announcement from the ‘Samyukta Kisan Morcha’ (Non-Political) and ‘Kisan Mazdoor Morcha,’ had erected barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway. The farmer groups had declared their intention to march to Delhi, demanding a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their crops, among other issues. This led to the establishment of protest camps at the Shambhu border near Ambala, where farmers have been stationed since February 13.
The Haryana government’s plea, which challenges a high court order requiring the removal of these barricades within a week, was a key point of discussion during the recent Supreme Court hearing. The barricades had been set up as a preventive measure in response to the anticipated farmers’ march, aimed at ensuring public order and safety on the national highway.
As the Supreme Court continues to monitor the situation, the upcoming formation of a multi-member committee represents a significant step towards a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the farmers’ grievances. The committee’s work will likely involve addressing key issues such as the legal guarantee of MSP, which has been a central demand of the protesting farmers. The court’s proactive approach reflects its commitment to finding a balanced solution that considers the needs of both the farmers and the general public.