NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday was highly critical of the Punjab government’s approach towards implementing its December 20 order of hospitalization of farm representative Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death protest had continued for more than a month without medical help.
“There is a deliberate attempt by the Punjab government and a section of the media to project that the Supreme Court is trying to break Dallewal’s fast. That is far from the truth. We have reiterated that we want his health and life are protected,” a court said. said Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan. “We have also repeatedly said that you could continue your protest quickly from the hospital. Your life is precious. Once your life is secured, we will be able to discuss all issues for resolution.”
Justice Kant told Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh that the government and its representatives are “making irresponsible statements. The so-called farmers’ representatives are also issuing statements to keep the pot boiling. What are their bona fides? If the government cannot cope with the situation, then we can pass appropriate orders according to the Constitution.”
The Supreme Court asked the Punjab chief secretary and the DGP to submit their compliance affidavits before Monday, when a hearing on Dallewal’s health issue would be held.
Hearing a PIL seeking directions to the Union government for implementation of the proposal to deliberate on legal guarantee of MSP made to protesting farmers in 2021, SC asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to consider the PIL and take directions from the Center on the relief he was looking for.
“We have constituted a high-powered committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge who has roots in agriculture and which consists of representatives of farmers and farmers, whose names were provided by both parties. We, as a court, cannot directly engage in dialogue with the farmers.
The Supreme Court asked the Center and the high-powered committee to give its opinion on the PIL within 10 days.
In its statement on December 9, 2021, the Union Agriculture Ministry said that it had formed a committee comprising representatives of the state and Union governments as well as Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), and that one of the The committee’s mandate “will be to ensure that farmers in the country get MSP.” Based on this assurance, the farmers withdrew their agitation, the PIL petitioner claimed.