On Wednesday, the Supreme Court urged the Central government to proactively engage with farmers who are preparing to march to Delhi to voice their demands [The State Of Haryana v. Uday Pratap Singh].
The bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant, Justice Dipankar Datta, and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek guidance on forming an independent committee. This committee should consist of respected individuals capable of interacting with farmers and other stakeholders to explore feasible solutions to their concerns.
The Court emphasized the need for the government to address farmers directly, suggesting that if farmers are planning to come to Delhi, it indicates a lack of trust in current engagement efforts. “Why not appoint a neutral mediator?” the Court proposed. It also suggested that the states of Punjab and Haryana might propose names for this committee.
The Supreme Court’s remarks came during a hearing of Haryana’s petition challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court directive to reopen the Shambhu border, a crucial link between Punjab and Haryana. This border had been closed by Haryana to prevent the movement of protesters towards Delhi.
The Court observed that the highway could not remain blocked indefinitely. Justice Bhuyan noted, “Farmers also cannot use JCBs to protest.” Solicitor General Mehta argued that even a welfare state must manage sensitive issues carefully, describing JCBs as having been turned into “virtual war tanks.”
Punjab’s Advocate General Gurminder Singh contended that while Haryana has the right to regulate movement, the prolonged blockade was causing significant economic damage to Punjab.
The Court stressed that it sought to avoid a conflict between Punjab and Haryana, proposing the formation of a committee with the agreement of both states and the Union. This committee would aim to engage with farmers, understand their perspectives, and negotiate solutions.
Additionally, the Court instructed both states to discuss and present a phased plan for removing barricades to minimize public inconvenience. It urged both states to maintain the current situation at the Shambhu border to prevent escalation and indicated that it might issue guidelines to manage the situation.
TAGS: Supreme Court Central government farmers Delhi march independent committee Shambhu border Punjab Haryana blockade Solicitor General JCBs highway economic impact mediator status quo guidelines.
