NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked Punjab chief secretary and police chief why contempt proceedings are not being initiated against them for non-compliance with its December 20 order of hospitalization of farmer Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is fasting until death. at the Shambhu border for almost a month.
A special panel of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia, who occupied a rare vacation bench during the winter vacation, rebuked the Punjab government for its indecision in saving the life of Dallewal, whose condition appears to have deteriorated in the last week.
Ordering the principal secretary and the DGP to remain present through video conferencing during the hearing on Saturday, the court asked the state government to submit a report by 11 am indicating compliance with the court’s December 20 order.
On December 20, a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan had said: “We have already clarified in very clear terms in the earlier orders that it is entirely the responsibility of the state of Punjab to ensure the stable health condition of Dallewal, therefore “If it requires hospitalization, the authorities must ensure that it is done.”
“Therefore, the state government will take up the question whether Dallewal can be shifted to the makeshift hospital or any other well-equipped hospital,” he said.
Responding to the contempt petition filed by farmer Labh Singh, Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh informed the court that a ministerial team comprising eight cabinet ministers from the state had gone to the protest site to convince the farmers to allow Dallewal to be hospitalized, but the protesters refused to do so. allow the transfer of the fasting farmer even to the improvised hospital.
The court said Dallewal’s health is a primary concern and the state must appropriately deal with “certain persons who are creating law and order situations to prevent hospitalization of the farmer.”
Punjab’s top law officer said Dallewal wants the chief minister’s intervention to calm the situation and said if the Center intervened it would help address farmers’ concerns. For the Centre, Attorney General Tushar Mehta said ensuring Dallewal’s health is a priority. Calming the situation is secondary: “It is the state government that must act to comply with the unequivocal order of the supreme court.”
The court agreed with SG and told the Punjab government that it should first ensure the health of the fasting farmer and then the court would try its best to listen to Dallewal’s point of view.
