SC asks protesting farmers not to cause inconvenience to public

The Supreme Court on Monday asked Punjab farmers’ leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, on a fast unto death in Khanauri on the Punjab-Haryana border, to press for the farmers’ demands to be met, to persuade protesting farmers not to obstruct highways and cause inconvenience to people.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan ruled on a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Dallewal, who was evicted from the Khanauri protest site on November 26.

“We saw that he was released and he even persuaded another protester to end his fast unto death protest on Saturday,” the court said, adding that the issue raised by the farmers was noted by the court and is considered in a pending case.

“In a democratic context, you can participate in peaceful demonstrations without causing inconvenience to the population. You all know that Khanauri border is a lifeline for Punjab. We do not comment on whether the protest is right or wrong,” the bench told advocate Guninder Kaur Gill, appearing on behalf of Dallewal.

Justice Kant said Dallewal could persuade the agitators to hold peaceful protests in accordance with law and without causing inconvenience to the people.

The bench said at this stage it was not hearing Dallewal’s petition but he may approach the court later.

Hours before he began his fast unto death on November 26, Dallewal was allegedly forcibly removed from the Khanauri border and taken to a hospital in Ludhiana. He was released Friday evening.

The plea was filed in the apex court on November 29, challenging his alleged illegal detention by the Punjab Police.

On November 30, a day after his release, Dallewal joined the fast unto death in Khanauri to press for the farmers’ demands to be met.

The farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border posts between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march towards Delhi was stopped by security forces.

The protesters accused the Center of not taking steps to address their demands, saying it had not held any discussions with them on their issues since February 18.

Apart from a legal guarantee for MSP, farmers are demanding implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, cancellation of farm debt, reinstatement of Acquisition Act land of 2013 and compensation for the families of farmers who died during a previous campaign. unrest in 2020-21.