The Punjab Government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that farmers protesting at the border with Haryana have agreed to meet the high-power committee constituted by the top court.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the state, conveyed this to a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N K Singh. The bench then adjourned the hearing on a plea regarding compliance with its directions to the state government to shift farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a hunger strike at the Khanauri border, to hospital.
“Somehow, we have been able to persuade the protesting people to meet Justice Nawab Singh (who heads the court-appointed panel) at 3 pm today,” Sibal told the Supreme Court.“We are hopeful that there would be a breakthrough.”
The developments assume significance as reports earlier had indicated that the protesters were refusing to meet the panel.
The court allowed Sibal’s request to adjourn the hearing in view of the fresh development and fixed it for hearing next on January 10.
Hearing an appeal by Haryana challenging the high court order asking it “to open at least the barricades at Shambhu border within a week so as to relieve the general public of inconvenience,” the Supreme Court on September 2, 2024, set up a “neutral high-powered committee” chaired by former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice (Retd.) Nawab Singh to talk to farmers protesting at the Shambhu border between the two states and find an amicable solution.
Meanwhile, on November 26, 2024, Dallewal began a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border, demanding that the Centre accept farmers’ demands, including a statutory guarantee for minimum support prices for crops.
Hearing the matter related to reopening of the Shambhu border again on December 20, 2024, the Supreme Court asked authorities to move Dallewal, who is a cancer patient and has other health issues, to hospital if necessary. Subsequently, an application was filed before the court accusing the Punjab Government of not complying with the December 20 order and seeking contempt-of-court proceedings against the state chief secretary.
Taking up the contempt petition for hearing on December 28, 2024, the court said that it was not satisfied with the efforts made by the Punjab Government towards compliance with its order to shift Dallewal to hospital. As the state government pleaded helplessness, citing apprehension of law and order disruption, the court came down heavily and remarked that the state’s action tantamount to abetting suicide.
On the last date of hearing the contempt petition, on January 2, the apex court once again criticised the Punjab Government, saying the state’s attitude appeared to be against reconciliation and that its officials were spreading the wrong impression that the court was trying to persuade Dallewal from breaking his fast. It also fixed January 6 for reviewing the actions taken by the state to comply with its direction to shift Dallewal to hospital.
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