Supreme Court Reprimands Punjab Government for Failing to Hospitalize Farmer Leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal
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New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) In a special session on Saturday, the Supreme Court reprimanded the Punjab government for its inability to hospitalize farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is currently on a hunger strike.
The 70-year-old cancer patient has been fasting at Khanauri, the border point between Punjab and Haryana, since November 26 to support their long-standing demands, which include a legal assurance for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, loan forgiveness, and reforms to enhance agricultural conditions.
A Vacation Bench led by Justice Surya Kant instructed Punjab’s Advocate General (AG) Gurminder Singh to adhere to its previous orders, which directed the Punjab government to ensure the stable health of Dallewal.
“It is entirely the responsibility of the State of Punjab to ensure the stable health condition of Mr Jagjit Singh Dallewal. If he requires hospitalization, the authorities must ensure that it happens. The State Government must make a decision on whether Mr Dallewal can be transferred to the makeshift hospital (temporary facility, reportedly set up 700 metres away from the site) or to a more equipped hospital,” the Supreme Court had ordered on December 20.
After AG Gurminder Singh mentioned that other protesting farmers were hindering medical assistance to Dallewal, the Justice Kant-led Bench proposed that it could instruct the Union government to provide logistical support.
The apex court mandated the Punjab Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) to execute its judicial orders within two days and scheduled the matter for another hearing on December 31.
It warned that if the orders are not adhered to, the Supreme Court would contemplate framing charges of contempt against the officials on the next hearing date.
On Friday, the Justice Kant-led Bench issued a notice regarding a plea seeking contempt actions against the Chief Secretary of Punjab for non-compliance with the apex court’s orders.
It stated, “Medical aid must be provided (to Dallewal) and it appears that you (Punjab authorities) are not adhering to our orders.”
Expressing grave concern for Dallewal's life and safety, it had instructed the Punjab government to comply with its directive to hospitalize him.
In a prior hearing, the Justice Kant-led Bench remarked that protesting farmers are welcome to present their grievances directly to the Supreme Court after learning that the farmer leaders had not attended the meeting with the court-appointed panel.
It noted that the court’s doors are always open, indicating that farmers could voice their demands directly before the apex court or through their authorized representatives.
Previously, the Supreme Court had declined to consider a new plea seeking directions to immediately clear the blockages of national and state highways in Punjab, which alleged farmers and farmer unions have permanently obstructed. “Why are you filing repeated petitions? We are already addressing the matter and have taken some steps. There is no reason for repeated petitions,” it told the PIL litigant.
“In the ongoing PIL, we never say ‘no’ to any counsel. You assist us on the designated date, and we will determine what orders can be passed regarding the opening of highways,” the apex court stated.
Stating that no new petitions should be entertained on the same issue, it proceeded to dismiss the fresh plea but allowed the petitioner’s counsel to assist in the ongoing matter concerning the “larger public interest issue.”
In September, the Supreme Court ordered the establishment of a committee to amicably resolve the issues of farmers protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border. It had proposed a panel headed by Justice Nawab Singh, a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to negotiate with the protesting farmers to remove their tractors, trolleys, etc., from the National Highway for the convenience of the general public.
Additionally, the apex court had granted farmers the liberty to relocate their peaceful protests to an alternative site. Besides Justice Nawab Singh, the panel included 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.
