The Supreme Court on Friday both Haryana and Punjab to suggest common names for the constitution of a committee to reach out to the protesting farmers at the Shambhu border to find a solution to their demands.
SC says that its earlier order of maintaining a status quo on the Shambhu border near Ambala, where farmers have been camping since February 13, will continue.
In the previous hearing on July 24, to address the ongoing impasse, the court proposed the formation of an independent committee to engage with farmers and other stakeholders to find a mutually acceptable solution to their demands.
The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta, and Ujjal Bhuyan, expressed concern over the prolonged blockade of the national highway and the trust deficit between the farmers and the government. It emphasized the need for a neutral intermediary to facilitate dialogue and build confidence.
The court directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to suggest names for the proposed committee within a week. If the states fail to do so, the court will independently identify suitable members.
While maintaining the status quo at the Shambhu border, the Supreme Court also directed both states to initiate a phased removal of barricades to ease public inconvenience. This decision comes in response to a Haryana government appeal against a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that mandated the opening of the highway.
The Solicitor General, representing Haryana, argued against opening the border, citing potential law and order issues and the presence of heavy military equipment at the site. The court acknowledged these concerns but stressed the importance of the state taking proactive steps to engage with the farmers.
The farmers’ protest at the Shambhu border began in February in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.