Supreme Court suspends implementation of farm laws and forms a four-member panel to get more exact picture of the ground situation of farmers’ protest. Slams government on its way of handling the farm protest.
Supreme Court on Farmers Protest
A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Bobde expressed disappointment in Centre’s handling of the farmers’ protest. CJI, on Monday, said that the Court will form a committee to resolve the issue and until then the implementation of farm laws is put on hold. Further, he questioned the Centre about the process of making the farm bills. He stated that the absence of enough consultation has resulted in a strike. Now, because the government has not been able to resolve the matter, the Court will have to facilitate talks.
Meanwhile, the farm unions expressed their gratitude for the Court’s statement on farmers protest. However, they claimed that now is not the time to form a committee. Samyukt Kisan Morcha released a note stating that all farmers, individually and collectively, are unwilling to participate in any committee.
Supreme Court Forms Four Member Committee
The Supreme Court has formed a four-member committee to address farmers’ grievances against the farm laws. In today’s hearing, the CJI said that the formed committee would not pass any order or punish anyone. Instead, it will facilitate the Court to analyze the farm laws. Also, he explained that the Court had suspended the laws to resolve the matter, and it is not in favour of inactivity. Besides, he told farmers’ side that they should co-operate with the committee formed.
Members of Panel Back Farm Laws, Farmers Reject the Panel
On the other hand, farmers’ union have expressed their disappointment on the Supreme Court’s decision. Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal said that the three out of four committee members have declared themselves in favour of new farm laws. So, what’s the point the committee? On the absence of lawyer team representing farmers at the Court today, he said the farm unions decided not to participate in any proceedings before the committee.
The members of committee include Bhupinder Singh Mann (chief of Bharatiya Kisan Union), Ashok Gulati (agriculture economist), Pramod Kumar Joshi (director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research), and Shetkeri Sangathana Maharashtra chief Anil Ghanwat. The committee will hold the first sitting within 10 days of the Supreme Court’s verdict.
SC Verdict Against Government Wishes: Minister
Kailash Choudhary, Minister of state for agriculture in the Centre said that Supreme Court’s order of staying the implementation of laws is against the government’s wishes. However, the party welcomes the apex court’s decision. Hence, it will engage in discussions with the committee.
In all, with the suspensions of the three controversial laws, the government cannot take any executive action for now. Farm unions have also declared that their agitation will continue until farm laws are not repealed.