File affidavits on meeting with farmers: Punjab and Haryana High Court to states, Centre

Chandigarh, February 15

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Union of India and state governments to file affidavits based on their meeting with the farmers this evening.

Taking up a bunch of two petitions filed in the matter, the Bench also fixed February 20 for the purpose.

The direction by the Bench of Acting Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Vikas Suri came after Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain told the Bench that a meeting was scheduled between Union ministers and representatives of farmers union. “Let a short affidavits be filed by the respondents on Tuesday,” the Bench directed in the open court.

In its affidavit placed before the Bench, the State of Haryana, meanwhile, submitted that it had earmarked protest sites in six districts of Yamunanagar, Charkhi Dadri, Kurukshetra, Jhajjar, Panchkula and Karnal. It added that the agitators could apply for holding peaceful agitation in the districts.

“The competent authority shall consider and decide the request as per the legal provisions,” it said.

Describing the national highways as the “lifeline for Northern states, the affidavit added that the unions were hell bent to stop the same. “In such a scenario, the authorities are making sincere efforts in accordance with the law to maintain the movement of citizens, goods and essential services by stopping the agitating farmers from entering in Haryana,” it said

The Punjab Government, on the other hand, underscored sincere efforts to resolve farmers’ demands amicably and ensure peaceful resolution of the march towards Delhi.

“It is submitted that the state government in coordination with Government of India has made sincere efforts to ensure that the demands of agitating farmer unions are resolved amicably and they drop their call to march towards Delhi,” it added.

The petitions against the Union of India and other respondents were filed by advocates Uday Pratap Singh and Arvind Seth. Additional Advocate-General Deepak Sabharwal is appearing for the State of Haryana, while Advocate-General Gurminder Singh is representing the State of Punjab.

Haryana earmarks protest sites

Haryana submitted that it had earmarked protest sites in six districts of Yamunanagar, Charkhi Dadri, Kurukshetra, Jhajjar, Panchkula and Karnal. It added that the agitators could apply for holding peaceful agitation in the districts.

Resolve issues amicably: Punjab

The Punjab Government, on the other hand, underscored sincere efforts to resolve farmers’ demands amicably and ensure peaceful resolution of the march towards Delhi.