On Monday, the Punjab government informed the Supreme Court that farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border have agreed to negotiate with a court-appointed committee. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Punjab, told a bench led by Justice Surya Kant that a meeting with the panel was scheduled for 3 PM, expressing optimism about a potential “breakthrough.”
Following this development, the Supreme Court deferred until January 10 the hearing on a contempt plea against Punjab’s Chief Secretary for failing to hospitalize Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a farmer leader on a hunger strike. Dallewal, a 70-year-old cancer patient, has been fasting at Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border since November 26, demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP), loan waivers, and agricultural reforms.
The court-appointed committee, established in September 2023, is headed by Justice Nawab Singh, a former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge. Its mandate includes resolving farmers’ grievances and negotiating the removal of tractors and trolleys from highways to reduce public inconvenience. The panel also features former Haryana DGP BS Sandhu, agricultural analyst Devender Sharma, economist Prof Ranjit Singh Ghuman, Dr. Sukhpal Singh, and Prof Baldev Raj Kamboj as a special invitee.
In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court clarified that it had not directed Dallewal to end his hunger strike but emphasized the importance of safeguarding his health. Justice Kant stated that Dallewal could continue his peaceful protest while receiving medical care, underscoring the state’s responsibility to ensure his well-being.
The court warned Punjab of possible judicial intervention if directives regarding Dallewal’s hospitalization were not implemented. It suggested moving him to a fully equipped or makeshift hospital to stabilize his health. The next hearing will review the progress of the farmers’ negotiations and the state’s compliance with the court’s orders concerning Dallewal’s condition.
