Farmers' Protest: Supreme Court Requests Compliance Report from Punjab on Dallewal’s Health and Safety

New Delhi, Dec 27 (NationPress) The Supreme Court on Friday requested a compliance report from the Punjab government regarding the hospitalization of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a hunger strike. A Vacation Bench led by Justice Surya Kant was hearing a plea seeking contempt action against the Chief Secretary of Punjab for failing to adhere to the apex court’s orders.

“Medical assistance must be provided (to Dallewal), and it appears you are not adhering to this,” noted the Bench, which also included Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia.

Expressing grave concerns over Dallewal's life and safety, the court stated, “We are quite anxious to see how you will comply with our directive to get him hospitalized. We won’t say much now, but this matter will be reviewed on Saturday.”

In the interim, it directed the Punjab government to submit an affidavit detailing compliance with prior orders issued by the apex court.

Last week, the Justice Kant-led Bench had commanded the Punjab government to ensure Dallewal's stable health and mandated his hospitalization.

“Ensuring the stable health condition of Mr. Jagjit Singh Dallewal is entirely the responsibility of the State of Punjab. If he needs to be hospitalized, the authorities must ensure it happens. The State Government will decide whether Mr. Dallewal can be transferred to the makeshift hospital (a temporary facility reported to be 700 meters away from the site) or to another well-equipped hospital,” the SC had mandated.

The 70-year-old cancer survivor has been fasting at Khanauri, the border area between Punjab and Haryana, since November 26 in support of their long-standing demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, loan waivers, and reforms aimed at enhancing conditions in the agricultural sector.

The SC has scheduled the next hearing for January 2, 2025, and requested both the Chief Secretary and the Chairperson of the Medical Board to provide a new medical report regarding the stability of Dallewal’s health, along with necessary measures taken to avert any irreversible health deterioration.

“If any necessity arises to approach this court during the interim, liberty is granted to all concerned,” the apex court mentioned in its December 20 order.

In a prior hearing, the Justice Kant-led Bench indicated that protesting farmers are welcome to present their grievances directly before the highest court after it was revealed that farmer leaders did not attend the meeting with the court-appointed panel.

The court asserted that its doors are always open, allowing farmers to articulate their demands either directly before the apex court or through their authorized representatives.

Previously, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a new plea demanding immediate clearance of national and state highways in Punjab, which alleging farmers and farmer unions have blocked indefinitely. “Why are you submitting repeated petitions? We are already handling this matter and have initiated some actions. There’s no reason for repeated petitions,” it informed the PIL litigant.

The apex court remarked, “In ongoing PILs, we never say ‘no’ to any counsel. Please assist us on the scheduled date, and we will determine what orders could be issued regarding the opening of highways.”

Stating that no new petition should be entertained on the same subject, it proceeded to dismiss the fresh plea but allowed the petitioner’s counsel to assist in the ongoing matter regarding the “larger public interest issue.”

In September, the Supreme Court mandated the formation of a committee to amicably resolve the grievances of farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border. It suggested that the panel, led by former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Nawab Singh, negotiate with the protesting farmers to remove their tractors, trolleys, etc., from the National Highway for public convenience.

Moreover, the apex court permitted farmers to relocate their peaceful protests to an alternative site. Besides Justice Nawab Singh, the panel consisted of former Haryana DGP B.S. Sandhu, agricultural analyst Devender Sharma, Prof Ranjit Singh Ghuman, agricultural economist Dr. Sukhpal Singh, and Prof Baldev Raj Kamboj as a special invitee.