Farmers’ protest: SC takes note of talks with Centre; defers hearing
Taking note of two rounds of talks between the Centre and farmers demanding a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops, the Supreme Court on Friday deferred the hearing over the farmers' protest.
As the third round of talks was scheduled to take place March 19, a Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh said the matter would be taken up thereafter.
The Bench is seized of petitions seeking contempt action against Punjab government officials over providing medical aid to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal.
Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh told the Bench that two ministers of the state had participated in the meeting.
The Bench took on record an interim report of the court-appointed high-powered committee for providing a platform to the agitating farmers to raise grievances as it appreciated the panel’s work. However, it chose to keep the interim report with itself for time being.
In September, 2024, the top court had formed the committee to amicably address the grievances of protesting farmers.
On January 22, the Bench had kept in abeyance a contempt petition action against Punjab Chief Secretary and the DGP after being informed that Dallewal — on a hunger strike since November 26, 2024 — was undergoing medical treatment without breaking his fast.
On January 2, it had asked the Centre why it can’t it say that its doors were open and it would consider the genuine grievances of farmers protesting over various demands, including the legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops.
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