- By Shivam Shandilya
- Wed, 18 Dec 2024 06:37 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Punjab government informed the Supreme Court on Sunday that elaborate meetings were held with Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the farmer leader who is on an indefinite fast at the Khanauri border, and other farmers, but they declined to interact with the high-powered committee constituted by it. According to news agency PTI, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan was informed by Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh that the committee invited them on December 17, but protesting farmers did not engage with it.
Singh said that the state government was trying to persuade the farmers on a daily basis and also suggested that they could be permitted to submit their demands directly to the court.
The top court said, "We clarify that court's doors are always open to any suggestion or demand by farmers directly or through their authorised representative."
The top court also took note of the health of Dallewal and asked the Punjab government to provide medical aid without any delay. It has cautioned the Punjab authorities on the repercussions if anything untoward happens to the farmer's leader.
"The entire state machinery will be blamed if something untoward happens. Consider the grave repercussions. Do not feel any pressure and do what is required. Extraordinary conditions require extraordinary steps," told the bench to Punjab.
The top court was hearing an appeal against the July 10 Punjab and Haryana High Court order by which it had directed it to open the highway and clear the barricading within seven days.
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In February, the Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway. The farmer bodies announced that farmers would march to Delhi in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
(With input from agencies)