SC SENDS NOTICES TO CENTRE AND STATES, TO FORM NEGOTIATION COMMITTEE

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh regarding a batch of pleas seeking a direction to the authorities to immediately remove the farmers who are protesting at several border points of Delhi against the three new farm laws. 

The top court also indicated that it may form a committee with representatives of the government and farmer bodies across the country to resolve the dispute. “Otherwise, this will soon become a national issue. It seems the government may not be able to work out,” the court said.

The Supreme Court allowed 8 farmers associations, namely, Bharatiya Kisan Union, BKU-Sidhupur, BKU-Rajewal, BKU-Lakhowal, Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, BKU-Dakaunda, BKU Doaba and Kul Hind Kisan Federation to be impleaded as respondents in this case.

Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate Dushyant Tiwari said that the SC has already passed a judgement in the Amit Sahni case (Shaheen Bagh judgement). The CJI observed, “This is such an important matter. Why can’t you argue it properly? We are asking, what is your standing, your issues and your prayer.”

Petitioner’s advocate Om Prakash Parihar compared the situation in Shaheen Bagh with the farmers’ protests. The CJI asked, “How many people had blocked the road there? Will the number of people not determine this? Who will take responsibility? There can be no precedent in law and order situation.”

The CJI then asked the petitioners if the organisations have been added. Parihar responded that there is no information of the organisations. 

Petitioner and Advocate G.S. Mani said that he has land in Tamil Nadu, and that he is aware of the farmers’ pain as he himself has cultivated land there. To which the CJI said, “You say that you know the pain of the farmers of Punjab and Haryana because you have land in Tamil Nadu? What do you know?”

The CJI then told the SG, “We see that the petitions are ill-conceived and there are no legal issues before us. The only party before us who has blocked the road is you.” The SG replied, “I have not blocked the road…the farmers are protesting and roads have been blocked by Delhi Police.”

Following this, the CJI observed, “Your negotiation does not work apparently. You should be willing to negotiate and we should have a farmer before us who is also willing to negotiate! Give us the name of the union.”

The Supreme Court bench headed by CJI S.A. Bobde was hearing a batch of PILs seeking the removal of farmers protesting at the Delhi border against the new farm laws.